Cola ban not to put off investors

Defending the decision to ban Coca Cola and Pepsi, Kerala Law Minister M Vijayakumar on Tuesday said it reflected the LDF government's social commitment and there was no justification to dub it as a move that would discourage investors.

Replying to questions in the state assembly on behalf of Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan, Vijayakumar termed as 'spontaneous reaction' the protests that followed the Kerala High Court's order lifting the ban, but decried the violence during the anti-Cola demonstrations by the pro-Left youth outfits.

The protests could be seen as a natural reaction. But violence would only weaken the power of the protest, he said referring to recent attack on Cola godowns in some parts of the state.

Vijayakumar said he could not agree with those looking at the Cola case as an 'investment issue.' The ban on Colas was imposed as part of the LDF's social commitment on a serious matter, he said.

Within four months of coming to power, the government had been able to win confidence of investors in vital sectors like information technology, he said.

The work to acquire land for the 500-acre Techno City near Thiruvananthapuram was progressing well. Also, the Technopark would be expanded by acquisition of another 100 acres of land, he said.

Anti-cola violence 'natural,' says Kerala CM