· Denies bid to intimidate private managements

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) State committee has called upon the State Government to ban sale of Coca-Cola and Pepsi in Kerala.

Briefing reporters after an LDF State committee meeting here on Sunday, Front convener Vaikom Viswan said the decision was taken on the basis of recent `scientific findings' about the hazardous contents in the two beverages. "We have made our recommendation. Now it is for the Government to take all aspects into consideration and arrive at a decision," he said.

Mr. Viswan said the Government could consider banning sale of other products of the two companies, including mineral water being marketed by them, if the contents of these also had material hazardous to human health.

He brushed aside the suggestion that the LDF panel might send a wrong signal to the industrial world. "There is no negative attitude involved here. We have just taken the position that we could not allow anyone to make people drink poisonous beverages," he added.

The LDF convener said the panel had also decided to ask the Government to work out a consensus on the self-financing colleges row even as it tried for a judicial solution. The dialogue must continue so that there could be some understanding between the managements and the Government and the goals set before itself by the Government are achieved, he said.

He denied the charge that the Government was following a twin-track policy of holding out threats against the managements even as it initiated a dialogue with them.

The LDF does not propose to hurt or irritate anyone. All that it wants is to find a solution to the vexed issues. There are some acceptable elements in the proposals submitted before the Government by the managements.

These are also being considered in the course of the dialogue, he said and added that the dialogue already initiated by the Government is with the knowledge of the LDF panel.

The LDF convener said the panel did not see any need for a separate discussion on the mineral sand mining issue or for reconsideration of its stated position on the issue. He said the Front is still in the process of finalising sharing of positions in State-owned corporations and boards.

He said the LDF panel had also decided to ask the Government to formulate a farm policy on the lines of the national farm policy.