THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Continuing his tirade against Chief Secretary E K Bharat Bhushan, Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan alleged major irregularities in the assets of the latter, before the Assembly on Tuesday.
Coming out strongly in defence of Bhushan, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said that Bhushan had made no manipulations in his asset statement submitted before the government. Chandy further underscored that the government would protect its officials who had not done anything wrong. The issue rocked the Assembly with Achuthanandan accusing the CM of protecting Bharat Bhushan, making other Ministers mute spectators.
Raising the issue through a strongly-worded statement, Achuthanandan alleged that the Chief Secretary had properties worth crores of rupees which he had not mentioned in the asset statement. Demanding a CBI probe into all these issues, Achuthanandan said that all documents related to the issue should be tabled in the Assembly.
“The Chief Secretary had been taking decisions by making other Ministers mere spectators. Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has been made a scarecrow by the Chief Secretary in taking decisions concerning the Home Department. The Revenue Minister’s statement regarding the Pattoor land issue, makes it clear that decisions were taken without his knowledge. Who’s the Revenue Minister here?” Achuthanandan asked.
He further alleged that the Chief Secretary was involved in the controversial land issue in Pattoor.
Earlier, in the beginning of the Zero Hour, Achuthanandan tried to raise the issue. However, Deputy Speaker N Sakthan, who was in the Chair, denied permission as the Chair was not informed about the same. Though Achuthanandan insisted that he would like to speak with permission from the Chair, the Deputy Speaker denied permission stating that the Minister concerned may not be ready to respond.
“With all due respect to the Opposition leader, to raise the issue, you need to inform the Chair in writing. Only then the Minister concerned can respond to your statement. When the Opposition leader raises an issue, the Minister should be able to respond,” the Deputy Speaker said.
The attempt by some of the Opposition members to let Achuthanandan speak - pointing out that the Opposition leader had some special privileges - did not materialise as the Deputy Speaker said he would be given an opportunity at the end of submissions. Later he was permitted to raise the issue.