Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Fuel price: Chandy flays government

Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy says the government is not sincere in its actions.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy on Thursday criticised the government for its refusal to forgo the entire portion of additional Sales Tax from the hike in petroleum prices and the one per cent cess on commodities in order to provide relief to the people from the burden of price increase.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr. Chandy said though the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government observed hartal on Thursday, it was collecting additional tax and cess from petroleum products. He said the Chief Minister had offered to examine the prospects of forgoing a portion of the revenue from the petroleum price hike. The government and the Left leadership were not sincere in their action, but were prompt in blaming the Centre for the hike. The Central government had contained the price hike to Rs.5 by bringing down Excise and Customs duties. The Congress president has asked all Congress Chief Ministers to forgo the additional revenue from the price hike. The West Bengal government was considering a proposal to reduce Sales Tax rates. But in Kerala, the LDF government was not prepared to provide relief to the people, he said.

Mr. Chandy warned that the United Democratic Front (UDF) would launch an agitation if the State government refused to withdraw the tax on the hiked price of petroleum products. He said Rs.1.20 of the Rs.5 hike in petrol prices and 60 paise in the case of diesel “were the contribution of the Achuthanandan government.” In reply to a question, he said if the Finance Minister had gone abroad, it was only after handing charge to one of his colleagues. Besides, he could be contacted over phone for consultation.

Replying to questions on the bid to take over Golf Club, Mr. Chandy said the entire episode once again proved that the LDF government had lost its collective responsibility. The Revenue Minister and the Chief Minister were pulling in opposite directions. The government did not have clarity on the issue. While it took action against the Golf Club, it had no qualms in promoting a Rs.65-crore Golf Course at Nedumbassery. To questions on whether the Government land should be recovered, Mr. Chandy wanted the State government to observe the existing procedures while doing so. Besides, the government does not have a policy on promoting such clubs. “The Revenue Minister and the Chief Minister would have to come to an understanding first to sort out the issue,” he said.

He also wanted the government to name the proposed Akkulam Convention Centre after the late K.R. Narayanan. His Cabinet had taken a decision on this, but there was no mention in the publicity materials brought out for the inauguration. He said the UDF government had finalised the proposal, but could not launch the project because of the dispute over the lease period. The promoters had asked for a 99-year lease, but the government was willing to give it for only 33 years.

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