Puducherry, January 24th
Functionaries and volunteers of the Puducherry unit of the Communist Party of India (CPI) today alleged that the Centre was "neglecting" the Union Territory in providing relief to those hit by the cylone Thane and held demonstrations here seeking enhanced cash compensation for the affected. R Viswanathan, Secretary of the Puducherry unit of the CPI, said that the announcement by the Centre of Rs 125 crore as interim relief to Puducherry for regions affected by the Dec 30 cyclone was "inadequate and a proof of the lack of concern on the part of the Centre towards Puducherry". The party functionaries and volunteers held demonstrations in front of municipal council offices in Puducherry and Uzhavarkarai blocks over the issue. The demonstrators also criticised the hike in the Value Added Tax imposed by Puducherry government on consumer products and also the increase in the bus fare that came into force from January 1. They demanded that the rise in the taxes and fare be scrapped immediately.
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