Centre to refer UST issue to review committee

By Our Staff Reporter

PONDICHERRY, JULY 25. The PCC (I) leader, Mr. V. Narayanaswamy, today said he met the Union Finance Minister in New Delhi recently and brought to his attention the serious implications of the uniform sales tax sought to be imposed by the Centre in the Union Territory.

He told presspersons that the Minister told him that the matter would be referred to the Review Committee, which would meet tomorrow.

On the statement made by the DMK leader, Mr. R. V. Janakiraman, that he did not have locus standi to meet the Finance Minister, Mr. Narayanaswamy said as a responsible leader and also a citizen, he had every right to take up the issue with the Central Minister. The Congress would sent a fax message, persuading the Centre to drop the move.

Mr. Narayanaswamy said that the PCC supported the plea for conferring the Bharat Ratna on the actor Sivaji Ganesan, posthumously.

Plea for judicial probe

Mr. Narayanaswamy urged the Pondicherry Government to order a judicial probe into the fire accidents occurred in Karaikal, rendering several people homeless.

He said the police had taken into custody 19 persons and a majority of them were reportedly DMK sympathisers. The Opposition was trying to tarnish the image of the Congress-led Ministry.

Mr. Narayanaswamy said a large number of huts was gutted in the Karaikal north and south constituencies. A judicial probe would bring out the truth.

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Section  : Southern States
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