Opposition walks out of Kerala assembly over fish, vegetable price hike
Thiruvanthapuram: The Opposition staged a walkout in protest against the state government’s failure to address the price hike. Food and Civil Supplies Minister G. R. Anil maintained that inflation is a national issue and stated that market intervention could help reduce it.
He was responding to the adjournment motion raised by Congress legislator Roji M. John in the Legislative Assembly. Opposition Leader V. D. Satheesan alleged that while Supplyco is commemorating its 50th anniversary, the LDF government has become its destroyer.
Blaming the Food and Civil Supplies Minister for failing to control inflation, Roji expressed surprise at the LDF government’s lack of awareness of the issue’s severity. Anil’s admission that inflation had not come to his notice enraged the Opposition. Roji remarked that due to skyrocketing vegetable prices, Malayalis are now forced to have sambar without lady’s finger, drumstick, and tomato.
“The prices of vegetables, fish, meat, and eggs have doubled. People are unable to go to the market. The LDF government had promised to provide chicken at Rs. 85 per kilo. But where is it? People can’t even get a chicken leg at this price. I want to know if the state government is providing any monetary benefits to Civil Supplies for market intervention. The minister himself had previously said that his department had not received any allocated funds from the finance department,” said Roji.
A day after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated Supplyco’s 50th anniversary, Roji took a jibe at it, saying, “Supplyco is without supply,” pointing out the empty racks greeting consumers. The young MLA also criticized Pinarayi Vijayan, suggesting that at least the helicopter rent should be given to Supplyco.
However, Anil recalled a meeting with his agriculture counterpart, P. Prasad, and blamed the UDF for not cooperating with the LDF government in addressing the anti-Kerala stance in New Delhi.
Responding to Anil’s statement, Opposition Leader V. D. Satheesan criticized the irresponsible attitude of the Food and Civil Supplies Department.
“When Supplyco is commemorating its 50th anniversary, the LDF government has become its destroyer. Inflation has increased by 50% to 200%. It’s unfortunate that the Food and Civil Supplies Minister responded about rice distribution from ration shops when the Opposition’s motion was about inflation. We collected comparative prices of vegetables and other essential goods from various markets, including Horticorp outlets,” said Satheesan.
He added that the LDF government has also ruined Horticorp outlets, where prices remain high.
