Southern States - Kerala

Oppn. walkout over ADB loan issue
By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, MARCH 15. The Opposition LDF members staged a walkout from the Assembly today protesting against the Government's refusal to table documents relating to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) loan being availed of by the State.

The Opposition walkout came after the Finance Miniser, K. Sankaranarayanan, told the House that the Government had not begun talks with the ADB regarding the loan conditionalities. The discussions would begin next month and the Government was keen that there should be total transparency in the entire deal, he said.

Mr. Sankaranarayanan, who was replying to a submission by the Leader of the Opposition, V. S. Achuthanandan, also told the House that the State had exchanged letters of intent with the Centre on fiscal reforms and power sector reforms.

Earlier, Mr. Achuthanandan urged the Finance Minister to table the documents pertaining to the entire ADB assistance programme so that there could be total transparency in the deal as had been stated repeatedly by Mr. Sankaranarayanan.

Mr. Sankaranarayanan refused to heed his demand and this provoked the Opposition. Almost the entire Opposition was on its feet for a brief while arguing with the treasury benches and the Speaker, Vakkom Purushothaman. The Chair pointed out that he could not force the Minister to table any document.

After their vain effort to get the Finance Minister to respond to their demand, the Opposition members walked out of the House.

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