Karunakaran urges State Govt. to forgo ST on fuel prices

Thiruvananthapuram, June 12 (UNI) Democratic Indira Congress(K) leader K Krunakaran today urged the Kerala Government to forgo the sales tax on the increased prices of petroleum products and lessen the burden of the common man.

Addressing a media conference here, he said several states had decided to drop ST on the hiked fuel prices and if the Kerala government was sincere about lessening the burden of the common man it should also come out with a positive decision in this regard.

Mr Karunakaran said the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala had no moral right to call a general strike in the state tomorrow in protest against the fuel price-hike when it continued to realise ST on the increased prices.

Stating that the DIC(K) would also stand with the people in tomorrow's strike, he warned that the party would launch an agitation to force the state government to forgo ST on hiked fuel prices.

Mr Karunakaran alleged that the relief announced by the state government for the families of debt-trapped farmers who had committed suicde was yet to be disbursed. The announcements remained on paper and it seemed that the government was a non-functioning one.

He said factional feud in the CPI(M) had also contributed for the non-functioning of the government and pointed out that even allocation of portfolios of ministers were not completed.

Asked about the allegations against Public Works Minister P J Joseph on the "Maithri" housing project while he was the Housing Minister in the Nayanar government, Mr Karunakaran said former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and PCC President Ramesh Chennithala had no moral right to demand an inquiry into the scam now. It was during the tenure of Mr Chandy as Chief Minister reports about the scam came out first, but he failed to take any action then.

Replying to a question, he said the DIC(K) could have won more seats in the Assembly elections in the state had it not forged the poll alliance with Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF).

The DIC(K) could win only one seat out of 18 it had contested in the Assembly elections.

UNI PMM1312