Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Council debates price rise

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The City Corporation Council, which met on Tuesday, witnessed an animated debate on the rise in prices of essential commodities. Moving a resolution on the issue, IUML leader Beemapally Rashid accused the government of failure to check the spiralling price. He alleged that the LDF was trying to muzzle the Opposition’s attempt to highlight the issue.

Reacting to the charge, CPI leader G.R. Anil said the Central government was responsible for the price rise. “The AICC president herself has admitted that the Centre had failed to keep prices in check. Despite the reduction in the Central quota, the State government has been working hard to supply rice at an affordable price to the common man. The network of arikkadas and mobile Maveli stores were launched with this objective,” he said. Mr. Anil termed the Opposition’s allegation as politically-motivated.

UDF floor leader Johnson Joseph said the government and officials were on two separate tracks. Accusing Food and Civil Supplies Minister C. Divakaran of failing to control the price situation, Poundukadavu ward councillor Veli Varghese (Congress) called for the Chief Minister’s intervention. Deputy Mayor V. Jayaprakash proposed that the UDF resolution blaming the government be sent to the Union Ministry. Approving the suggestion, Mayor C. Jayan Babu said the resolution did not state which government — Central or State — was responsible for the price rise. The motion was put to vote and rejected.

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