Vayalar ravi urges CM, ministers to avoid controversies
Pointing out that the performance of the UDF Government would be a major topic of discussion in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Union Minister Vayalar Ravi advised Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and his colleagues to be cautious enough to avoid damaging allegations.
Speaking to the media at a face-to-face programme at the Press Club here on Monday, Vayalar Ravi, however, tried to evade questions on the recent controversies that battered the UDF Government. He brushed aside questions on the controversies as “weak allegations by the Opposition”.
“These kinds of controversies are bound to happen in a coalition. But the UDF has done fairly well in governance,” he said.
At the same time, Ravi said that the UDF Government had much more to do in implementing welfare projects for the youth and the poor.
The state governments should more effectively implement flagship projects of the UPA including the food security programme and the employment guarantee scheme.
Responding to a question on the problems faced by expatriate Indians in Gulf countries, the Overseas Indian Affairs Minister said that his ministry was closely watching the developments in the Middle East and was in constant touch with state governments regarding the return of expatriates from Gulf countries due to change in labour laws. Alluding to the storm whipped up by the comments of P C George on Congress leaders,
Ravi said that his party would take up the issue at bilateral level. “I don’t consider his statements that seriously. There is no need to talk to P C George personally. He is an MLA of a constituent in the UDF and not the party himself. So, there is no need to directly interact with him,” he added.
Referring to media reports that he had convened a meeting of leaders close to him at Kozhikode, Ravi clarified that it was not a formal meeting.
“It’s true that some of my close colleagues in the party paid a visit at the guest house the other day. We did discuss political issues but it had nothing more to it.”