Balagopal reminds CM of his earlier stand; previous govt’s debts must be cleared first, says VD

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Speaker rejected the first adjournment motion notice submitted by the opposition in the new assembly after Chief Minister V D Satheesan's explanation. The opposition had demanded that the house be adjourned to discuss rising prices. The chief minister accepted that the opposition's concerns about inflation were partly valid and said a decision on the matter would be taken later.

‘The ongoing conflict in West Asia is the main reason for the present price rise. The previous government failed miserably in carrying out market intervention. The Left government left behind Rs 3,000 crore in unpaid dues to the Civil Supplies Corporation. The Civil Supplies Corporation is the agency responsible for intervening in the market to control prices in Kerala. Only after this debt is cleared can the corporation effectively intervene in the market and curb the severe inflation being witnessed now. We are taking strong measures to control prices. Allegations regarding the state's financial situation will be addressed through a White Paper,’ said V D Satheesan.

The adjournment motion notice was moved by K N Balagopal. He pointed out that when fuel prices rose during the previous government's tenure, V D Satheesan, the leader of the opposition then, had led protests and demanded a reduction in state taxes. As someone who had taken that stand, Balagopal argued that it would be fair to the public for the state government to now reduce the additional tax revenue it is receiving due to higher prices. He urged the chief minister to clarify the government's stand on the matter and added that the calculations involved were not particularly complicated. Satheesan responded to these in the assembly.