'People will not accept tariff hikes'

By Our Staff Reporter

THRISSUR, SEPT. 17. The senior Congress leader, Mr. K. Karunakaran, MP, has said that the UDF Government's decision to hike bus fare and electricity charges will not be accepted by the people.

Talking to reporters informally here today, Mr. Karunakaran said the UDF Government had brought out a White Paper on the State's acute financial position caused by the mismanagement of the previous Government. But, on that excuse people should not be put to hardships.

``If they had asked me I would have suggested alternatives if they had none. The decisions are taken by the Cabinet and these are placed before the UDF committee only after being announced to the public,'' he alleged.

``Does it mean that the UDF committee is not being consulted on major policy decisions?'' he was asked. He replied, ``My health prevents me from attending all the meetings of the UDF. But I have not witnessed this (of policy issues being placed before taking decisions) at the meetings I have attended.''

Replying to questions, he said the people, by and large, appeared to be not satisfied with the performance of the UDF Government. ``But since the Chief Minister, Mr. A.K. Antony, has sought six months' time, I will make my opinion known only after that.''

Asked whether he thought the Government would be able to put things in order during the remaining 80 days of the six months' time sought by the Chief Minister, Mr. Karunakaran said, ``When I compare the period when I was heading the UDF Government, I feel that the performance of this Government is unlikely to be in the right direction. However, the Chief Minister has asked for six months' time, and let us wait for that.''

KPCC reconstitution

Replying to questions on the reconstitution of the KPCC, Mr. Karunakaran said he came to know about the selection of some of the people from newspaper reports. ``Nobody has consulted me. That is why when I read reports about one of the nominees for the post of vice-president, I made my views known publicly.'' Asked whether he was happy with the reported selection, Mr. Karunakaran said, ``Let the final names be known. Then I will make my views known.''

Reiterating his opposition to the reported move to deny KPCC posts for MLAs, Mr. Karunakaran said, ``I had been the DCC president, MLA and INTUC president. I didn't have any problems then. But I understand that this is only an opinion, and no decision has been taken so far about MLAs holding KPCC posts.''

Asked about the delay in announcing the names of the KPCC office-bearers, even though the KPCC president, Mr. K. Muraleedharan, had said two weeks before that the names would be announced within 48 hours, Mr Karunakaran said, ``He was only expressing his hopes. As far as I know, the KPCC president has completed all that has to be done from his side. Now it is for the party high command to decide.''

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Section  : Southern States
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