ALAPPUZHA: The agitation being organised by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) against the hike in the prices of petrol and diesel has exposed its double standards, Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy has said.

Delivering the keynote address at the general body meeting of the Alappuzha District Congress Committee (DCC), Mr. Chandy said while the LDF was organising agitations against the fuel price hike, the LDF Government ruling the State was not prepared to forego the extra taxes it would get because of the price hike.

If the Government took the decision to forego the extra taxes, the price of petrol would decrease by more than 80 paise per litre and the price of diesel by more than 40 paise per litre, Mr. Chandy said. He said the previous United Democratic Front (UDF) Government had decided to reduce State taxes on petrol and diesel when the Union Government had hiked fuel prices the last time. This had brought a lot of relief to the public. Mr. Chandy said the LDF, which was in the opposition then, had demanded such a decision.

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Ramesh Chennithala, who inaugurated the general body meeting, said the LDF Government's rule was marked by uncertainty. Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan had failed to complete the division of portfolios among the various members of the Ministry 24 days after assuming power.

Mr. Chennithala said as the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Achuthanandan had always demanded stringent action against the corrupt, but was now allowing Public Works Minister P.J. Joseph to continue in the Ministry even though allegations of corruption had been raised against him.

He said Mr. Achuthanandan had failed to do anything more than what Mr. Chandy had done in the issue of providing medical help to People's Democratic Party leader Abdul Nasir Maudany and his release. The assurances given by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi to Mr. Achuthanandan did not contain anything more than in those given by the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to Mr. Chandy, Mr. Chennithala said.

Mr. Chennithala said the meeting of UDF leaders with certain community leaders during the Assembly elections did not bring any benefit to the front. Rather it had an adverse effect.

Mr. Chennithala said the last elections proved that only Congressmen could defeat the Congress. He said many Congressmen had failed to work sincerely for the UDF candidates.

DCC president C.R. Jayaprakash presided over the meeting. Those who spoke included UDF convener P.P. Thankachan, MLAs K.C. Venugopal, M. Murali, P.C. Vishnunath and B. Babuprasad.

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