The Hindu Business Line : Kerala Opposition walks out in protest against price rise

Moving a notice for an adjournment motion on the issue, Mr K.C. Venugopal of the Congress took the Government to task for having precipitated a spiral in the prices of essential commodities, including rice, pulses, chillies and vegetables.

Replying to the notice, the Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, Mr C. Divakaran, reeled out what he described were measures taken to control prices. He sought to blame the state of affairs on the frequent hike in prices of petrol and diesel.

The Minister took a dig at the UPA Government at the Centre, saying that the reduction in the quantum of foodgrains supplied through the public distribution system had also contributed to the flare-up of prices in the open market.

In fact, the State Government was doing its best possible to control the situation by vending essential commodities through the outlets of the State Civil Supplies Corporation.

This failed to satisfy the Opposition members, who said they were walking out in protest against the irresponsible approach of the Government in dealing with the matter.

Earlier, the Opposition had tried to raise the perceived differences in the ruling coalition over using a loan from the Asian Development Bank for `sustainable development' of corporation/municipal areas.

Two members had moved a notice to discuss the agreement threadbare in view of the Chief Minister, Mr V.S. Achuthanandan's revelation that he was kept in the dark about the act of signing the same into effect.

They also took exception to the Chief Minister's statement that two of his Cabinet colleagues — the Minister for Local Bodies, Mr Paloly Muhammed Kutty, and the Minister for Finance, Mr Thomas Isaac — who doubted the Chief Minister's bona fides, would need to correct themselves. But the Speaker, Mr K. Radhakrishnan, refused to entertain the notice citing the absence of the Chief Minister in the House.

The Opposition demanded that any responsible Minister present speak on behalf of the Chief Minister.

The Treasury Benchers were on their feet asking the Opposition to go by the Speaker's ruling. The latter refused, and started shouting slogans. This prompted the Speaker to call a halt to the proceedings for a brief period.

But, later, the Speaker met with the Opposition leaders and reached an agreement on taking up the issue when the House met on Friday.

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