Satheesan seeks detente in Tharoor issue

He says MP’s stance on K-Rail is in accord with UDF

Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan on Tuesday sought to put to rest the intra-party wrangling over Shashi Tharoor’s perceived endorsement of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government’s flagship K-Rail (SilverLine) semi-high-speed rail project.

Mr. Satheesan said Mr. Tharoor’s stance on K-Rail was in accord with the United Democratic Front (UDF). The MP had sought time to study the issue. He had not endorsed K-Rail. The UDF had conducted a detailed evaluation of the project and found it wanting. K-Rail was not economically or environmentally feasible.

Mr. Satheesan said he had sent a copy of the UDF subcommittee study report on K-Rail to Mr. Tharoor. “Nobody need doubt Mr. Tharoor’s position on SilverLine. He shared the UDF’s concerns about the project,” he said.