Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday blamed managements of self-financing medical colleges in the Assembly for failure of talks with the government over the medical college fees issue.
He told the Assembly that managements were firm on their stand on not withdrawing from the deal made with the government. The government was not stubborn and the Opposition was aware of it. The government and the Left Front were united over the issue. The statement that I insulted the health minister and the health secretary are false, Mr Vijayan said.
Earlier, with the Opposition intensifying their protest in the Assembly after talks with the self-financing managements failed, the Question Hour was suspended as the Opposition continued their protests before Speaker P. Sreerama-krishnan’s chair. The Assembly was suspended for four minutes without conducting the Question Hour.
When the Assembly resumed, the Opposition continued their protest forcing the Speaker to cut short the Session.
Later, Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, while addressing a press meet said that the Chief Minister was responsible for the failure of the talks held with managements. The representatives of the management who met the Opposition leaders had made it clear that they were ready to reduce the fees. The Opposition conveyed the message to the Chief Minister. He misled the Assembly by claiming that managements were responsible for the failure of the talks. People will not pardon the Chief Minister for his action, Mr Chennithala said.
The Chief Minister changed his stand following a phone call from the AKG Centre. Over 30 people who were present at the meeting had witnessed his stand towards the health minister K.K. Shylaja and health additional chief secretary Rajeev Sadanandan was witnessed by almost 30 people.
