Kerala - Kochi   

`Achuthanandan protecting the corrupt'

Staff Reporter

Kochi: P.T. Thomas, former MLA, has asked Minister for Public Works P.J. Joseph to reveal the amount he had allegedly collected from non-resident Indians and foreigners to construct houses for the weaker sections under the Maithri Scheme.

The scheme was formulated by the LDF Government, which came into power in 1996.

At a press conference here on Saturday, the Congress leader said that the enquiry conducted by seven agencies into the irregularities in the implementation of the scheme did not come across any amount collected from foreign countries. Mr. Thomas alleged that the amount was collected without the sanction of the Central Government and was in violation of the Foreign Exchange Regulation laws.

He said that the conduct of Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan on the issue had exposed the hollowness of his promise of dismissing any Minister who was accused of corruption. Mr. Achuthanandan's statement that a probe would be conducted into the functioning of the housing board from 1991-2006 was aimed at protecting the corrupt. Mr. Achuthanandan's was yet to take a decision on the files recommending Vigilance inquiry into the alleged irregularities in the Maithri Scheme.

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