Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan sought to dampen the corruption charges raised by the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) Opposition in the Assembly on Thursday.
Replying to the motion for thanks to the Governor’s address, Mr. Vijayan also attempted to counter the Opposition’s political sneers with tit-for-tat ripostes and quick-fire repartees.
Mr. Vijayan reminded Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan and senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala, MLA, to “keep the State’s interests in mind” when accusing the government of corruption in the decision to allow a liquor major to start a distillery and brewery in Palakkad.
He said the Left Democratic Front’s (LDF’s) liquor policy aspired to reduce the State’s reliance on other regions to meet its liquor consumption. In the process, the LDF hoped to generate employment, staunch revenue outflow, and reduce transportation costs of liquor and extra-neutral alcohol.
Mr. Vijayan said there was no anomaly in the KWA water supply to the plant. Oommen Chandy’s government had sanctioned the use of piped water for industrial purposes.
“The UDF seemed genetically inclined to see corruption whenever excise, liquor or bar crops up in the public domain. The LDF does not share the Opposition legacy,” he said.
He accused the UDF of attempting to lay a smokescreen of distorted and cherry-picked facts to accuse the government of corruption in purchasing PPE kits, gloves, medical oxygen, and other supplies during the COVID-19 crisis.
He said the CAG had raised an audit objection comparing pre-COVID market rates of medical equipment to that during the pandemic when production dwindled and significant raw material supply routes collapsed. He said the CAG’s latest report did not factor in the government’s explanation.
“The government could not follow Store Purchase Rules and initiate the tendering process when the pandemic overwhelmed Kerala. We initiated emergency purchase steps to stock up on critical gear. It saved lives, compared to the COVID-19 response in other regions,” he added.
He said Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) legislator N. Samsudheen had accused the CPI(M) of aiding the Bharatiya Janata Party. Mr Samsudheen called the CPI(M) the Communist Janata Party.
“The sobriquet does not fit the CPI(M). However, it suits the Congress fine. An estimated 86,000 Congress votes flowed to the BJP in the Thrissur Lok Sabha polls. Moreover, the Congress has fielded candidates against the AAP in New Delhi to aid the BJP. Congress defectors sit at the apex of the BJP,” he added.
Earlier, IUML legislator K.P.A. Majeed accused Mr. Vijayan of clandestinely meeting the emir of the Jamaat-e-Islami. “The Jamaat leader called on me as Chief Minister. I cannot say no to those who wish to see me. But it does not change my political position or view about the outfit,” he added.
In contrast, Mr. Vijayan said UDF convener M.M. Hassan had clandestinely spoken with the Jamaat-e-Islami and denied the meeting.
The Assembly passed the motion by voice vote. It will reconvene on February 7 for the State Budget.
Published – January 23, 2025 08:54 pm IST
