Customers left in the lurch

KOCHI: The Onam-Ramzan People’s Metro Bazar 2011 at Ernakulathappan Ground turned out to be a farce. Those thronging the outlet for making purchases for Ramzan celebrations had to return empty-handed as the outlets remained closed.Same was the case with the fair organised by the Cooperation department’s Consumerfed at Rajendra Maidan. Civil Supplies Minister T M Jacob had said that the government was steadfast in meeting the demands of the people by providing them essential articles at affordable rates.The Minister’s words were echoed by Excise Minister K Babu and Mayor Tony Chammany.Failing to keep promises, the Supplyco observed a holiday on Tuesday.When contacted, newly-appointed chairman M S Jaya said that it was the government’s decision to give a holiday for the Civil Supplies Corporation.The Civil Supplies Corporation did not inform the media about its plans to  observe holiday on Tuesday, a day ahead of Ramzan and Atham.People who wanted to do last-minute shopping had to depend on the open market and shell out a large amount of money for essential items. The claim made by the chief of marketing, Supplco, that the fair would be kept open on holidays to clear the extra rush was not honoured.But the government had decided to keep its outlets in the state capital open. When asked about the logic behind keeping the Supplyco outlets open in the state capital, the chairman said that it was the government’s decision to do so.