ASEAN agreement would adversely affect Kerala: CM

Flaying the signing of Free Trade Agreement by India with Association of South East Asian Nations, Kerala Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan said it would adversely affect the farmers of the country, particularly in the state.

Flaying the signing of Free Trade Agreement by India with Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), Kerala Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan on Saturday said it would adversely affect the farmers of the country, particularly in the state.

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Speaking after unfurling the national flag at the 63rd Independence Day celebrations, Achuthanandan said, "in a true federal-democratic system when an international agreement is finalised, suggestions of states have to be considered and the agreement should be discussed in Parliament."

"India is following a democratic system based on a strong foundation of federal policy. So, when an international pact is signed which affects different states, suggestions of the states have to be considered and the same has to be discussed in Parliament," Achuthanandan said.

Stating that country was in the grip of price rise of essential commodities, he said that the state government succeeded in checking price rise to a great extent.

Noting that the other major threat faced by the country was from "divisive and communal forces," he said every effort should be made to isolate these forces, he said.