Governor's address 'disappointing'': Chandy

Thiruvananthapuram, June 16 (UNI) Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly Oommen Chandy today described Governor R L Bhatia's policy statement in the Assembly as ''disappointing'' and without clear policies and programmes.

Reacting to the Governor's statement, he told reporters here that besides announcing the policy for the current year, the LDF, which assumed power with a big majority should have made their approach clear for the whole five-year term.

Expressing strong protest against the absence of any mention about waiving off additional sales tax on petrol and diesel and the allegations on Maithri Housing Project, which brought an additional burden of about Rs 1,100 crore to the state exchequer, he said the LDF was meting out great ''injustice'' to the poeple in the state on these two issues.

Pointing to the burning issue of unemployment, Mr Chandy said the LDF government took the issue very lightly as no clear vision or policy was found in the Governor's statement.

Demanding that the LDF government should bring out a ''white paper'' on the present financial condition of the state, the Opposition leader charged that the LDF government was hesitating to do so because they had to agree that the financial management of the previous UDF government was efficient.

Indian Union Muslim League leader C T Ahammad Ali and Kerala Congress (Mani) leader K M Mani also said the policy statement had no clear vision and policies.

UNI CGV VV LR DS1423