The Hindu : Kerala News : Protest in Kerala on June 9

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Wednesday, Jun 07, 2006

Kerala

Kerala

Protest in Kerala on June 9

Special Correspondent

KPCC flays fuel price hike, wants Government to cut ST rates

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Various political parties and organisations have come out strongly against the Central Government decision to raise the price of petroleum products.

The Joint Action Council of Motor Transport Workers announced a vehicle strike and the BJP a hartal from 9 a. m. to 6 p. m. on June 9 to protest against the Central Government decision.

AITUC-led Motor Thozhilali Union State general secretary and joint action council leader Pattom Sasidharan in a statement here on Tuesday, said autorikshaw, taxi, tempo, trekker, lorry, tanker lorry and private line bus workers would strike work on Friday as part of the agitation against the oil price hike.The All Kerala Bus operators' organisation called for a token stir on June 9.

Calling for the cooperation of all to make the hartal a success, BJP State general secretary P. K. Krishnadas said that the hospitals, media and vehicles carrying milk and marriage parties had been exempted from the hartal. The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee has termed the hike as an `act that would hit the common man badly.'

KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala, in a statement here on Tuesday, said the hike would hit the common man very badly. He wanted the State Government to provide relief to the people of Kerala by announcing a cut in sales tax rates. He recalled that the previous Oommen Chandy Government had announced such a decision when the fuel prices were hiked last time.

The Kerala Congress (M) said that the hike was `irrational' and its burden was `unbearable for the common man.' Party general secretary Joseph M. Puthussery wanted the State Government to announce a ST cut on petrol and diesel.

DIC (K) president K. Muraleedharan strongly protested against the hike. He wanted the Centre to reconsider the price hike in view of the all-round protest, including from within the Congress. He suggested exemption of sales tax on petroleum.

The All Kerala Bus Operators Organisation put forward a five-point charter of demands that include subsidy for private buses, revision of student concession fares, imposition of curbs on sanction of bus permits and address the anomalies in the Motor Workers Welfare Fund, according to T. Gopinathan, general secretary.

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