Kerala self financing medical fee hike: UDF to intensify campaign outside Assembly
Thiruvananthapuram: UDF legislators called off their indefinite fast in the Legislative Assembly as the session will resume only after puja holidays on October 17.
Some leaders favoured an end to the strike at the UDF Parliamentary party meeting in the morning. Later, at the UDF meet, it was decided to intensify the strike outside the Assembly. UDF will be holding a Secretariat march against the LDF government’s policy on self-financing medical colleges on Thursday which will be inaugurated by Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala. The UDF meet has also decided to hold peoples’ meet in 14 districts on October 15 – 16. Mr Chennithala said it was the Chief Minister’s arrogance which worsened the situation.
“The peoples’ meet will show the dirty game of the LDF government. Instead of solving the issue, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is pouring oil into fire. He is responsible for the failure of talks with managements,” Mr Chennithala said. He also claimed that the strike by the Opposition on the issue was a big victory. The UDF will convene on October 17 to decide the future course of action. The self-financing private medical college managements came for talks as per the directive of health minister K.K. Shylaja.
“However, the CM blasted at her and spoke harshly. The CM’s statement in the Assembly was a lie. Representatives of the management who met Opposition leaders were ready to reduce fees. According to that, the Opposition conveyed the issues to the CM,” added Chennithala.
He added that the CM misled the Assembly by holding managements’ responsible for the failure of talks. Mr Chennithala challenged the CM that people of Kerala will not pardon him for his folly. CM’s bad behaviour towards the health minister and the departmental secretary Rajeev Sadanandan was witnessed by almost 30 people, Mr Chennithala said.
The two fasting MLA’s, V. T. Balram and Roji M. John were given a rousing reception at the Martys Column at Palayam in the evening by the UDF leadership. Shafi Parambil and Hibi Eden were shifted to the hospital on Tuesday evening as their condition worsened.
