UDF Govt slams DYFI stir over jobs

The Congress-led UDF Government in Kerala today flayed CPI(M)'s youth wing DYFI for staging a state-wide agitation accusing the ministry of having enforced a virtual ban on appointments in state services.

As hundreds of DYFI workers protested before the Government secretariat and the district collectors, state Information Minister K C Joseph charged the youth outfit with waging a an agitation over a "non-issue."

"There is no ban on appointments whatsoever. Their agitation is over a non-issue and it is causing inconvenience to the public when the Christmas is round the corner," Joseph told reporters.

He said only that in recent times certain restrictions had been made in creating new posts in view of the financial crunch faced by the state.

On questions about the off-the-cuff comments frequently made by Government Chief Whip PC George of the Kerala Congress (M), the minister said it was for the UDF and his party to restrain George.

Admitting that George's open comments casting the ministers including Home Minister Thiruvanchur Radhakrishnan in poor light came as an embarrassment to the government as a whole, Joseph said he expected Kerala Congress (M) supremo and Finance Minister K M Mani would take necessary action to restrain George.