By IANS
Thiruvananthapuram : The opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala said Thursday it would organise a state-wide shutdown Feb 19 against the “ineffective” Left government and its failure to tackle the price-rise and other issues.
UDF convenor P.P. Thankachan told reporters here Thursday: “Despite several letters from our side to Achuthanandan (Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan), no steps have been taken to tackle rising prices, put in place a health insurance for weaker sections, and this government has almost discontinued the measures we started to distribute rice at low prices. We have planned a state-wide shutdown on these issues.”
Thankachan denied that the shutdown was political in nature.
“When we ruled (2001-06) there were 22 shutdowns and not a single one to protest price-rise. We arrested price-rise by pumping in Rs.1 billion every year. This government is just ineffective and has done nothing,” he added.
Prices of essential commodities have shot up sharply. Rice is costlier by Rs.10 a kg, red chillies Rs.20 a kg, coriander by Rs.24 and garlic by Rs.54 since the government took over 20 months ago, Thankachan pointed out.