Before walking out, Mr. S. Shivappa (PSP), Opposition leader in the Assembly, vainly tried to prevent the Minister for Municipal Administration from laying the Government notification on the supersession. The supersession was the death knell of democracy, he said. The Government had failed to produce the show-cause notice issued to the corporation or the corporation's reply to it.

A similar statement was made in the Council by Mr. G. V. Anjanappa (PSP).

The Government recently took over the administration of the corporation on the ground that the civic body had mismanaged its finances and failed to carry out its functions satisfactorily.

levied by the Panchayat Samitis and other local bodies.

Preseting the budget to the State Assembly, Punjab's Finance Minister Dr. Baldev Prakash indicated that the Government might nalionalise road transport.

West Bengal

Threat To Take Over Tramways

The ruling United Front of 14 political parties in West Bengal is opposed to the Calcutta Tramway Company's decision to increase fares from March 24.

The State Government circles have reac ted sharply to the proposed fare increase. Some officials said the company had consulted neither the Tramway Advisory Committee nor the department concerned before the decision. Presumably the company took the decision on the basis of "a verbal assurance" given by the former Chief Minister, Mr. P. C. Sen. According to one source, Mr. Sen had assured the company that his Government would have no objection to a fare increase after the elections.

In a statement on March 22, the United Front said it had been shocked by the sudden announcement of a tram fare increase. This "surreptitious method" was clear evidence of "a conspiracy of the capitalists and reactionaries to discredit the United Front Government of West Bengal".

The Front requested the company to withdraw its decision. "If it disregards this appeal the Front will have to advise they Government to take over the management of the company and run it in the public interst", it added.

The Front also urged the people not to pay the increased fares.

West Bengal's Deputy Chief Minister, Mr.. Jyoti Basu, on March 23 advised the Calcutta Tramways Company not to go ahead with its decision to increase fares, before discussing the issue with the Government.