PALAKKAD: The CBI’s decision Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan should undergo trial in the SNC Lavalin case has vindicated the Opposition stance, said Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala. Chennithala told reporters at the Government Guesthouse here on Saturday it is Pinarayi’s duty to come clean on the issue by disproving the charges in the CBI’s affidavit.
The government’s media blitz trumpeting the firsts achieved by the LDF dispensation on multiple fronts is not true and the public’s money is being used to spread these false claims to stay in power, he said. The ad issued by the government was based on the survey conducted by Bengaluru-based Public Affairs Centre.
However, the survey found in several spheres, the state had slipped from its earlier rankings, Chennithala said, wondering how long the government can stay in power by making false claims. On the multi-crore Rafael deal signed with France, Chennithala said the Narendra Modi Government is guilty of the biggest scam in the country’s history. The Centre has favored a businessman who will be making a windfall running into several thousand crores as a result of the deal, he said.
During the erstwhile UPA Government’s time, it was decided to purchase 126 Rafael jets along with the technical know-how, with the planes costing Rs 526 crore apiece. While 18 aircraft were to purchased from France outrightly, the remaining 108 jets were to be manufactured at the state-run HAL’s Bengaluru facility. Now, HAL is no longer in the picture, with privately-owned Reliance Defence being awarded the contract. Reliance Defence was formed barely months before the deal was inked, said Chennithala.
The state government had failed to rehabilitate the flood victims in Kuttanad and ensure their welfare, according to Chennithala. He said if the Thaneermukkom bund had been opened on time, the situation will not have become so grave. The third phase work of the bund was nearly completed during the UDF rule. The bund was opened only two weeks on since the deluge which inundated Kuttanad. The Chief Minister and the Water Resources Minister owe the public an explanation on this score, he said.
Move part of political agenda, alleges CPM
Once again the SNC Lavalin case has come back to haunt the CPM and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. With the CBI approaching the Supreme Court seeking trial of the CPM strongman, the party is determined to fight back. Taking the timing - with just one year remaining for the Lok Sabha polls - of the CBI move into consideration, the party feels it is part of a political agenda. The CBI has approached the apex court challenging the Kerala High Court verdict acquitting Pinarayi Vijayan in the case. It is part of a political agenda to trigger a debate in view of the parliament elections next year, alleged CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan.
“First, the trial court canceled the CBI chargesheet in the case. Later, the High Court acquitted Pinarayi in the issue. Now the CBI has approached the Supreme Court, as part of a planned agenda in view of the election. But the CPM is confident,” Kodiyeri told ‘Express’. The CPM state chief also accused the UDF of a hidden understanding with the BJP in the state.