Stalin blames Jayakumar for Tuesday strikes

Drawing the Centre and state’s attention to the one-day token strike observed by hoteliers and drug store owners in the state on Tuesday, Stalin said the ruling AIADMK should make efforts to urge the Centre to reduce the hike in taxes announced for hotels and stop sale of drugs online. 

Squarely blaming state Finance Minister D Jayakumar for the hotel strike, Stalin recalled a statement of the minister after attending one of the GST consultation meetings and said that over a lakh and a half hoteliers have downed shutters owing to his lethargy. 

He slammed the minister for failing to rake up the issue in the GST consultations and find a solution agreeable to all sections of people. He blamed the Minister for not bringing the attention of the Centre on the issue. 

The Leader of Opposition urged the Centre and state to make immediate efforts to reduce the tax imposed on hotels and prevent online sale of prescription drugs.