Kerala - Alappuzha   

`Railway Budget a humiliation to State'

Staff Reporter

BJP chief for an all-party meet

ALAPPUZHA: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State president P.S. Sreedharan Pillai has said that the Railway Budget for the year 2006-07 has humiliated the State, and the MPs from the State who support the UPA Government has conceded their inability to work for protecting the interests of the State.

While Vajpayee Government's Railway Budget for the year 2002-03 had earmarked Rs.444 crores for the development of railways in the State, the amount earmarked in the present budget for the State was less than Rs.100 crores, Mr. Pillai said.

Some of the projects were common for Kerala and neighbouring States, opined Mr. Pillai. The actual amount earmarked for the State was much less than the projected figure, he said.

Mr. Pillai demanded that the Chief Minister Oommen Chandy convene an all-party meeting to draft an agitation programme against the contempt shown by Railway Minister Lalu Prasad towards the State.

He said all political parties should stand united the fight. If not, the BJP would organise its own agitation to protect the self-respect of Keralites, said Mr. Pillai.

Agitation planned

Mr. Pillai said the BJP would organise State-wide protests on Sunday against the Centre's humiliation of the State and a meet would decide the future course of action.

Mr. Pillai said his party was considering calling a hartal in the coming week as a protest, if the Chief Minister failed to chart a joint agitation plan.

On the CPI(M)'s decision not to align with DIC(K), Mr. Pillai said it was for the DIC(K) to decide whether they wanted to protect their self respect or meekly submit to the Congress president.

Mr. Pillai said he had information that it was the Congress president who prevailed upon the CPI(M) leadership not to enter into seat adjustments with the DIC(K).

The CPI and CPI(M) leaders were now abusing Mr. Karunakaran, said Mr. Muraleedharan.

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`Railway Budget a humiliation to State'

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