News and Views

United Democratic Front (UDF) decided on Wednesday to discontinue hunger strike by its MLAs in front of the Assembly Hall over fee hike in self-financing medical colleges.

This is against the background of failure of talks to settle the issue and the adjournment of the House. The House which cancelled sittings on Thursday and Friday would now meet only on October 17 after the pooja holidays.

Kerala Assembly adjourned to meet on October 17 in view of protests by UDF members over self-financing college issue on Wednesday.

Chief Minster  Pinarai Vijayan refuted allegations that he had undermined talks with managements. The managements had said that they had no proposal to make regarding reduction of fees.

Discussions between government and managements of self-financing medical colleges on Tuesday did not take any decision to address the on-going agitation by UDF over hike in fees.

Chief Minister Pinarai Vijayan as well as Health Minister K. K. Shylaja held talks with the managements. Ms. Shylaja met the representatives of the management thrice. However, discussions mainly centred on next year’s admissions and other issues raised by the managements.

UDF members disrupted the Assembly proceedings during question hour on Monday over fee hike in self-financing medical colleges.

A conciliatory meeting held by Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan after adjourning the House failed to resolve the issue.

When the House resumed the sitting, the Opposition boycotted rest of the sitting.

Kerala Congress (J) leader Anoop Jacob, who was on hunger strike at the Assembly, shifted to hospital on Saturday following worsening of his health.

Mr. Jacob was on hunger strike along with Congress leaders Hibi Eden, Anoop Jacob and Shafi Parambil in protest against the hike in fees agreed to by the government in self-financing medical colleges.