Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

No policy perspective in address: Opposition

Special Correspondent

Thiruvananthapuram: The Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) on Friday said the Governor's address to the Assembly lacked a five-year perspective, considering the fact that it was the first policy statement of the new LDF Government. Addressing a press conference here, Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy said the Governor's address did not present any scheme to tackle unemployment.

The Government has treated the unemployment issue lightly. It should have at least some indicators about how the LDF proposes to implement the promises in its manifesto.

He said the Opposition had two major issues to register its protest — the Government's refusal to exempt the Sales Tax on the incremental increase in the prices of petrol and diesel and the allegations against Public Works Minister P.J. Joseph relating to the irregularities in the Maitri housing scheme.

The Opposition restrained itself from taking any drastic action as it was the first Governor's address of the new Government, he added. Mr. Chandy demanded a White Paper on the State's finances.

The Governor's address did not have any reference to the pay revision. The claims on law and order are baseless going by the attack on Youth Congress leaders in Kozhikode and the Palode incident, to name a few.

Indian Union Muslim League Legislature Party leader C.T. Ahamed Ali said the address was a damp squib and did not touch up on issues that hit the poor and weaker sections of society.

The Kerala Congress (M) leader K.M. Mani said the address lacked depth. It hardly touched upon the crisis in the farm sector and did not contain any scheme for the rehabilitation of farmers other than rubber cultivators.

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