Kerala passes resolution against Indo-US N-deal

Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 11: Amid sloganeering by the Congress-led Opposition in the Well of the House against bus fare hike, the Kerala Assembly today passed a resolution urging the UPA government at the Centre to withdraw from the Indo-US nuclear deal.

V N Vasavan of the CPI(M) moved the resolution which was passed by 79-0 votes.

Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan said since the nuclear deal was ''anti-national,'' it was the responsibility of all the people to come forward to oppose it.

Mr Achuthanandan said Kerala had became the first State Assembly in the country to pass such a resolution against the nuclear deal.

Earlier, Speaker K Radhakrishan disallowed an adjournment motion sought to be moved by K Sivadasan Nair of the Congress and others on the issue of bus fare hike.

Opposing the admissibility of the motion, Transport Minister Mathew T Thomas said the bus fare hike was necessitated due to the hike in the prices of diesel, lubricants, tyres and other spare parts.

Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy said the hike in the bus fare and electricity charges would put additional burden on common people, who were already reeling under severe price hike. It was due to mismanagement of the departments that the Government hiked the tariffs, Mr Chandy added.

Seeking a detailed discussion on the matter, Opposition members rushed to the Well of the House, shouting slogans against the Government and disrupting proceedings. The Speaker rushed through the day's proceedings and adjourned the House for the day.

UNI