Govt, Oppn commerce graft barbs in query hour

By Express News Service
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With hardly three months left for the meeting elections, the primary ‘question hour’ within the final session of the 14th Kerala Assembly turned out to be one filled with heated debates on graft prices. Both ruling entrance and the Opposition exchanged heated phrases by levelling a number of allegations.Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who’s holding Home portfolio, instructed the House that 5 MLAs belonging to ruling entrance and Opposition are dealing with vigilance circumstances. They are V S Sivakumar, V Ok Ebrahim Kunju, Ok M Shaji, P Unni and U Prathibha. Of them, Unni and Prathibha are from LDF.

The CM mentioned the investigation towards Sivakumar, Shaji and Ebrahim Kunju is in progress whereas the probe towards Unni is over. The investigation towards Prathibha was stayed by the High Court. In all, 149 dishonest circumstances have been registered towards M C Kamarudeen and one case every towards P V Anwar and E S Bijimol.

He was answering the starred questions submitted by D Ok Murali searching for particulars of vigilance and dishonest circumstances towards MLAs. Following this, members of the ruling entrance began asking questions associated to the graft allegations towards Opposition MLAs. This led to an uproar as MLAs of each fronts blamed one another.

The CM’s reply on the vigilance probe towards Opposition chief Ramesh Chennithala and different UDF MLAs within the bar bribery case, based mostly on the revelations of bar hotelier Biju Ramesh provoked Chennithala. The CM mentioned the preliminary probe towards Chennithala is into consideration. 

“The preliminary probe will begin soon. As Chennithala had approached the governor seeking his intervention on the matter, the vigilance is waiting for the latter’s nod,” the CM mentioned.  Chennithala countered by saying that was given a clear chit by the courtroom and probe companies a number of instances within the corruption allegation.

“The government is drenched in corruption. So, it is trying to raise corruption allegations against the Opposition to confuse the public,” he mentioned. In reply, the CM mentioned the UDF obtained a slap from folks for its doings towards widespread sense. “The UDF was always raising corruption allegations against the government. It got what it deserved in the local body polls,” he mentioned.

Later,  questions got here up pertaining to the Punarjani graft prices towards V D Satheeshan and actual property deal graft allegations towards P T Thomas. Though the CM mentioned the preliminary probe towards them is on, Satheeshan defended himself saying that the courtroom and different probe companies had discovered nothing to cost a case towards him.Pinarayi mentioned the CBI’s stand within the Titanium graft case was mysterious.Meanwhile, he stayed mum on P T Thomas’ query in reference to the bar bribery allegations towards KC(M) chairman Jose Ok Mani. He additionally evaded the query relating to the Lavalin case.

Backdoor postings: Oppn phases walkoutT’Puram : The Opposition staged a walkout from the meeting after the speaker turned down its demand for an adjournment movement to debate ‘backdoor appointments’ and large-scale regularisation of contractual appointments by the LDF Government. Congress MLA Shafi Parambil who gave the discover for the movement, mentioned the federal government has set a ‘world record’ in dishonest the youth of the state. He mentioned the state has change into a ‘graveyard of PSC rank lists.’ In reply, CM Pinarayi Vijayan mentioned the variety of aspirants included in PSC rank lists have been 5 instances the variety of precise vacancies. He mentioned 1.51 lakh job aspirants have been given appointment or advise memo by the PSC.

‘Can’t intervene for Siddique’s launch’The CM expressed helplessness in facilitating the discharge of journalist Siddique Kappan who’s in jail in Uttar Pradesh.  Replying to a query by P Ubaidulla, he mentioned the state had authorized limitations in intervening within the Siddique’s launch.

Is it HC that executes PWD works, asks ministerT’Puram: Public Works Minister G Sudhakaran on Tuesday made a weird comment towards the HC within the Assembly. It was whereas replying to a submission moved by UDF’s V P Sajeendran on non-completion of sure roads connecting Kunnathunadu and Perumbavoor constituencies that the minister got here up with a caustic response. Sajeendran had mentioned the actual roads have been in a nasty situation and due to the dilapidated state, accidents have been widespread. He mentioned he had approached the HC relating to the delay within the work and regardless of the courtroom’s intervention the work was shifting slowly. This provoked the minister, who mentioned, ”The HC will say such issues. Is it the HC that executes the work?” he requested. The minister mentioned the work was held up because of the delay on the a part of the Kerala Water Authority in relaying its pipes.