KOZHIKODE: The CPM was trying to save Finance Minister K M Mani and the government in the bar bribery issue, BJP state general secretary K Surendran said on Monday.Addressing a press conference here on Monday, Surendran pointed out that even after Bar Owners Association leader Biju Ramesh said he would commit suicide if his allegations were found baseless, the CPM-led Opposition was yet to organise a protest against the government.
“Though Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan has demanded a CBI probe into the allegation, CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan has contradicted him. It is clear that the CPM wants to save Mani.”He further alleged that over `16 crore had been collected from bar owners in the state. Not only K M Mani, but the Chief Minister also got a share of the bribe money, he added. “The BJP has clear evidence regarding the bribery. The government can simply expose the truth by interrogating the bar owners, but the police have not recorded their statement yet,” said Surendran.