more-in The opposition AIADMK on Sunday took strong exception to the ruling Congress calling for a bandh on Monday on the lines of the decision taken by the All India Congress Committee to condemn the rise in fuel prices. Talking to reporters here, AIADMK Legislature party leader A. Anbalagan said that the Congress was staging a drama as the rise in fuel prices was the fallout of the monumental blunder the Congress committed during the previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government by letting the oil companies decide the prices. The AIADMK and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had condemned the UPA Government’s decision in granting full freedom to the oil companies to fix the prices. The present Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy supported the UPA’s decision. But now the Congress was calling for a bandh, he said. He said that this was a clear case of Congress fooling the public seeking political mileage. If Mr. Narayanasamy was really interested in the welfare of the common man, the Puducherry government could bring down the sales tax on petrol and diesel to 5 %. It was also amusing that the DMK was extending support to the bandh. Mr. Anbalagan also pointed out that the free rice scheme of the government was suffering from several official blunders. The confrontation between the Chief Minister and Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi resurfaced with they taking different stands on the supply of free rice. During the last 26 months, free rice was available only on 10 occasions. The sub-standard quality of rice and tenders floated for the scheme has also been a subject of controversy. If there was a delay on the part of any official as contended by the Lt. Governor, she must come out with stern action against the official, he added.

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