T’puram: Opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan questioned the alleged indifference and misplaced priorities of the govt though six people were killed in man-animal conflicts over the past few days. “It is unfortunate that the indifferent attitude towards people has come out so early on in the govt’s tenure. Instead of visiting the child who was injured in a recent elephant attack in Idukki, the forest minister travelled on Aluva-Munnar cart road to find out if it can be opened,” he added.Vijayan claimed that RRT had alerted that there was elephant presence in the area but forest department did not take preventive steps. The reaction of the forest minister to these issues is tantamount to mocking people’s life, he claimed, adding that govt declared compensation only after there was a hue and cry.He said when LDF gave Rs 14 lakh as compensation, UDF, which was in opposition, had said it would give Rs 21 lakh. “There is no talk of this now,” he added. UDF did not cooperate with LDF when it opposed the forest law brought in during the time of PM Indira Gandhi, he alleged.
