Modi meets Chandy cabinet, discusses development

Thiruvananthapuram: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday evening met the Kerala cabinet of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and discussed many development issues related to the state.

The meeting was held at the technical area of the Thiruvananthapuram airport, just before Modi returned to Delhi after his two-day visit to the state.

Chandy, who was accompanied by 13 of his cabinet colleagues, expressed happiness over the outcome of the meeting.

"He (Modi) heard what we had to say about the demands of our state. We handed over a list of our demands. The meeting went off well," Chandy told reporters after Modi's departure.

The state's wish list included a new dam in lieu of the century-old Mullaperiyar dam.

Chandy also spoke to Modi about beleaguered rubber farmers in the state, who were facing a huge crisis after prices fell from Rs.250 a kg last year to less than Rs.100 now.

Among the other demands put up before Modi were the speeding up of the proposed Sabari railway line construction, declaring Sabarimala a national pilgrimage centre, issues concerning Coastal Regulation Zone guidelines, allocation from the price stabilisation fund for cash crops, allotting an AIIMS and upgrading cancer hospitals in the state.

Asked about being kept out of the R. Sankar statue unveiling function attended by Modi, Chandy said it was not taken up because it was not the right time. He said the issue will be taken up later.

After the 15-minute meeting with the Kerala cabinet, Modi was seen off by Governor P. Sathasivam, Chandy and others.