Southern States - Pondicherry   

Entry tax withdrawal sought: Rangasamy

By Our Staff Reporter

Pondicherry March 31. The Chief Minister, N. Rangasamy, today told the Assembly that the administration had registered its protest before the Empowered Committee of the Finance Ministers against the entry tax being imposed by neighbouring States and expressed the hope that it would be withdrawn.

Replying to a question from the Leader of the Opposition, R.V. Janakiraman, during the question hour, Mr. Rangasamy said the uniform sales tax implementation was not total and applied only to some items.

Only because of the persuasion by the Centre the tax was implemented in the Union Territory, he said.

Mr. Rangasamy, during the debate on motion of thanks to Lt. Governor, K.R. Malkani's address, told A.M.H. Nazeem (DMK) that enumeration on the impact of the drought in Karaikal on farm sector was on. Once it was completed, the quantum of relief would be decided.

Mr. Nazeem drew the attention of the Chief Minister to the promise given to farmers that a relief of Rs. 5,000 for a hectare of crop lost would be given.

AIADMK walkout

The AIADMK MLAs, A. Anbalagan and A. Kasilingam, staged a walkout during the question hour protesting the `skipping of a question', sought to be raised by Mr. Anbalagan, on the ``sufferings of women workers of a privately-managed glass container manufacturing factory at Thondamanatham, near here.''

Finding that his question was not taken up, the agitated member started talking about the deteriorating health of women workers.

He alleged that some women workers had already died of some ailment and a few others were hospitalised.

He showed a copy of an English magazine in support of his allegation. Such a serious issue should have been discussed, he said.

Mr. Anbalagan charged the administration with not being interested in the well-being of the downtrodden.

He criticised the skipping of the question and walked out of the House along with Mr. Kasilingam. They, however, returned after a few minutes.

Ration cards

Meanwhile, the lone BJP MLA, A.M. Krishnamoorthy, staged a walkout, saying the reply given to him by the Local Administration Minister, A. Elumalai, on ration cards was not ``satisfactory.''

Mr. Krishnamoorthy said he had been urging the Government to ensure that the really poor were issued red colour cards.

He alleged that red cards reached the hands of the affluent and were being misused, much to the disadvantage of the really poor.

In spite of his repeated complaints, nothing had been done to rectify the anomalies.

Mr. Janakiraman and other members wanted the administration to ensure that till the fresh enumeration was completed there should be some arrangement so that the poor people were not affected.

Theni C Jayakumar (TMC), Mr. Anbalagan (AIADMK) urged the Government to ensure that there was no confusion in the distribution of cards.

Mr. Elumalai attempted to pacify Mr. Krishnamoorthy with a promise that fresh enumeration would be done in next two or three months.

But, not satisfied with the reply, Mr. Krishnamoorthy staged a walkout.

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