Kerala Assembly | Opposition disrupts House over government ‘decision’ to hike price of subsidised essentials retailed via Supplyco

Congress-led UDF Opposition disrupted Kerala Assembly proceedings accusing Kerala government of imposing a backdoor price increase on 13 subsidised provisions, including rice, sugar and pulses, retailed at less-than-market rates through State-owned Supplyco outlets.

The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) Opposition disrupted Kerala Assembly proceedings on February 15 (Thursday) accusing the Kerala government of imposing a backdoor price increase on 13 subsidised provisions, including rice, sugar and pulses, retailed at less-than-market rates through State-owned Supplyco outlets.

The bedlam broke out when Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan accused Food and Civil Supplies Minister G.R. Anil of keeping the House in the dark about the crucial decision that, he cautioned, could spur seller inflation, exacerbate the cost of living crisis and upend the budgets of lakhs of ordinary families which rely on Supplyco stores to put food on the table at affordable prices.

Mr. Satheesan said that Mr. Anil announced the momentous decision to the media while the House was in session.

“The Minister had held the House in contempt and committed an egregious breach of parliamentary privilege”, said Mr. Satheesan.

He accused the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government of walking back from its election manifesto commitment not to increase the cost of essentials retailed through Supplyco outlets.

Mr. Satheesan said neither Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan nor Mr. Anil had told the Assembly that the government would revise the rate of basic supplies retailed through Supplyco stores, despite the Opposition serving an adjournment notice on the subject.

“Instead, the government took the decision to hike Supplyco prices in an underhanded manner and deliberately kept the House in the dark to pre-empt a debate and fend off public criticism”, he said.