UDF MLAs to continue hunger strike

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: An emergency UDF meeting held here at Cantontment House decided to continue the indefinite fast by the three UDF MLA’s for two more days at the Legislative Assembly. The protest is against the fee hike by self-financing medical colleges. The meeting also decided not to succumb to the LDF Government's pressures.

However, it has been left to Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala to figure out whether the protest should be shifted from the Legislative Assembly to the Secretariat. The UDF had planned earlier to protest before the Secretariat, with the participation of senior UDF leaders. But a senior UDF leader told DC that they were in a dilemma as to how to manage the protest in which they have asked the Left Government to reduce the fee structure in Pariyaram Medical College.

On October 3, Chennithala has called for a meeting of all senior UDF leaders and district chairmen so as to intensify the protest before the Legislative Assembly. A meeting of youth leaders has also been scheduled at 2 pm that day. “It has also been decided to convene the Congress high power Political Affairs Committee. We have decided to intensify the stir against the LDF Government on the self-financing management association’s decision to hike the fees”, said Chennithala.