Chandy seeks white paper on Kerala finances

New Delhi, Jan 29 (UNI) Former Chief Minister and veteran Congress leader Oommen Chandy today dared the Marxist-led Left Democratic Front government in Kerala to bring out a "White Paper" on the state's finances.

Taking serious exception to state Finance Minister Dr Thomas Issac's statement in Kozhikode yesterday blaming the previous Congress-led UDF government for the fiscal ills facing the state, Mr Chandy, who is also the Leader of the Opposition, said he would welcome any effort of the government to present a white paper.

"We will welcome a white paper on state's finances at this juncture when the government was on the job of preparing its budget for 2007-08," he said.

He threatened to publish a white paper by the Opposition in the event of the government failing to do so. "We want the people to know if there was anything wrong with the financial management during our rule." Mr Chandy said the Achuthanandan government in the state had been trying to put the blame on the previous government in the context of a possible situation wherein the government would have to drastically cut its plan expenditure.

The Marxist-led government came to power in May 2006.

Mr Chandy cited several instances of police high-handedness against the Congress workers with the blessing of the ruling CPI(M), and alleged breakdown of law and order.

He came down heavily on the state government for its decision not to go ahead with the Metro rail project in Kochi. The project was finalised with the help of Delhi Metro Railway Corporation Managing Director E Sreedharan when the Congress was in power, he pointed out.

Mr Chandy asked the government to reconsider its decision and implement the Metro project.

Asked about the delay in the reconstitution of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee, he said he would discuss the issue with Congress President Sonia Gandhi, if possible, during his stay here till January 31.

UNI