KOTTAYAM: Passing the ball to Finance Minister K M Mani’s court, Government Chief Whip P C George has said that the former would take a decision on whether he would present the State Budget-2015, or not, in view of the strong protest from the Opposition.
Speaking to mediapersons here on Friday, George said that he was personally afraid of taking up the ‘river of blood challenge’ posed by the Opposition if Mani dared to present the Budget.
“The Kerala Congress (M) will certainly provide all the support to Mani Sir for presenting the Budget. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and the UDF have also lent their support. However, the Opposition has threatened of a bloodbath if Mani Sir comes to present the Budget in the Assembly. In such a situation, Mani sir has every freedom to take a final decision in the matter. Whatever may be his decision, the KC (M) will stay by it,” he said.
Replying to a query, he criticised former Chief Secretary E K Bharath Bhooshan for his statement that the Chief Minister had protected corrupt bureaucrats. “If he had any reservation, he should have raised it during his stint as Chief Secretary. It is not fair to raise allegations after retirement,” he said. George also supported the Vigilance report in the case, saying that the Vigilance Department was an independent agency and that its officials with credibility would go ahead with what was right.