Withdraw from agitation,CM tells Opposition

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, OCT. 30. The Chief Minister, Mr. A.K. Antony, has urged the Opposition to withdraw from its agitation before the Assembly "that lowered the dignity of the House".

Addressing a press conference here today, the Chief Minister said that the Government was willing for discussions to settle the issue and reduce the term of suspension of three MLAs if the Opposition cooperated for the smooth conduct of the proceedings. There was, however, no question of the Government yielding to Opposition threats.

Mr. Antony said that the continued stalling of the proceeding of the House was a disgrace to the State. To top it, the Opposition was agitating against the House and the Speaker. This was unprecedented.

He recalled that when he was the Leader of the Opposition, the Opposition had shown utmost restraint in protesting against the Government in the House. He had even been called inept for this. Now, the Opposition was showing a high level of intolerance against the five-month-old Government. The CPI(M) should rethink about its attitude. It should not create bad precedents.

He recalled that the CPI(M) had resorted to strong-arm tactics whenever in the Opposition.

The Chief Minister said that the Government would be taking steps to solve the problems faced by the agriculture and labour sectors. The Government was holding discussions with various groups in this regard.

Apart from the adoption of the proposed legislation for comprehensive debt relief, the Government would be providing specific reliefs to rubber, coconut, paddy, coffee and areacanut farmers. Steps would also be taken to help the labour. The Finance Minister, Mr. K. Sankaranarayanan, would announce the details shortly.

Mr. Antony, who is leaving for Delhi on Wednesday, said that he would meet the Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee, to take up the problems of the State with him.

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Section  : Southern States
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