Three legislators of the Congress-led UDF have started a hunger-strike inside the Kerala Assembly.
Three legislators of the Congress-led UDF have started a hunger-strike inside the Kerala Assembly, demanding a roll-back of the steep fee hike by self-financing colleges after their agreement with the government. The Assembly was adjourned amid protest by UDF legislators.
"The government has allowed private medical and dental colleges to raise fees up to 40% in just hundred days of their governance. This is unacceptable. There are so many complaints and when we were protesting against it, the police force was unleashed on us," said Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala.
While Shafi Parambil, Hibi Eden and Anoop Jacob, the three legislators on fast inside the Assembly complex were supported by top Opposition leaders inside the Assembly, Congress workers held protest marches outside the secretariat against the alleged police brutality on the Youth Congress workers who were on a fast on Tuesday.
The strike call by the Congress on Wednesday against the alleged police excesses, did not affect essential services or private transport.
"While I stand with my party against the police excesses which severely injured peaceful Youth Congress protesters, the call for hartal isn't the best option. Hartal is a coercive in nature and one of our leaders has put forward an anti-hartal bill in the House," Congress lawmaker Shashi Tharoor told NDTV.
The allegations of police excesses were denied by the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
"What is worrying Congress? With the new agreement with private colleges, no capitation fees will be allowed. During the UDF rule, colleges would charge huge amounts for management seats and several back-door entries were possible. Money was extorted several times during the academic year, with various excuses. Now that won't be possible. All seats have to be filled in accordance to the merit list alone," Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told media persons, rejecting any possibility of fee reduction.