Kerala opposition demands Chandy’s resignation
September 26th, 2011 - 6:22 pm ICT by IANSThiruvananthapuram, Sep 26 (IANS) The Kerala opposition Monday demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and chief whip P.C. George over alleged attempts to influence the trial of the 1992 palm oil import case.
On the opening day of the second session of the 13th assembly, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) raised the issue of George allegedly putting pressure on the judiciary, forcing special vigilance judge P.K. Haneefa to withdraw from the palm oil case Saturday.
Haneefa was hearing the case and had last month asked the vigilance department to further investigate if Chandy as the then finance minister in 1992 had any role in the palm oil import at an inflated price, causing a financial loss to the state.
Deputy leader of CPI-M Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said: “You are both playing a double game. On the one side, you say you do not make any attempt to influence the judiciary and, on the other, you put pressure on the judiciary by shooting off letters to the president, the governor and the chief justice of India and the chief justice of Kerala High Court, against judge Haneefa.”
“This is a shame and you both have to quit,” said Balakrishnan, slamming the Congress-led United Democratic Front government.
Chandy countered the opposition and said: “Please let me know why your (opposition) government, which investigated this case for 10 years (1991-96 and again during 2001-06), never made me an accused.”
“All know that you are playing a political game and despite your best efforts you could not arraign me as an accused,” said the chief minister.
When Leader of Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan said the Chandy government was worse than the previous Congress government led by K. Karunakaran, the treasury benches objected to his statement.
The opposition legislators then rushed towards the seat of Speaker G. Karthikeyan, who adjourned the house.
When the house reassembled after a 90-minute break, the opposition again raised the issue vociferously after which the speaker adjourned the house for the day.
- High court strikes down observations against Chandy - Dec 02, 2011
- Vigilance gives clean chit to Chandy in palm oil case - Jan 07, 2012
- Kerala assembly session begins Monday - Sep 25, 2011
- List palm oil case before another court: Judge - Sep 24, 2011
- Chandy gives up vigilance portfolio after probe order - Aug 09, 2011
- Kerala palm oil scam: Fresh probe ordered in Chandy's role - Aug 08, 2011
- Palmoline case: Kerala government not averse to re-probe - Oct 18, 2011
- Court stops probe against Chandy in palmoil case - Sep 27, 2011
- Kerala chief whip petitions against judge - Sep 10, 2011
- Court dismisses plea to probe Chandy in palmoil scam - Oct 28, 2011
- Kerala special prosecutor in Palmoil case resigns - Feb 16, 2012
- Scandals from past jolt Kerala opposition (Letter from Kerala) - Feb 14, 2011
- Positives outnumber negatives in 100 days: Chandy regime - Sep 12, 2011
- Members almost come to blows in Kerala house - Jun 30, 2011
- Left disrupts Kerala assembly proceedings - Nov 03, 2011
Tags: balakrishnan, c george, chandy, chief justice of india, chief whip, communist party of india, communist party of india marxist, congress government, democratic front, deputy leader, double game, inflated price, k karunakaran, karthikeyan, leader of opposition, oil import, palm oil, political game, state deputy, v s achuthanandan