The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : `No complaint from Minister'

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Sunday, Jan 07, 2007
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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

`No complaint from Minister'

Special Correspondent

`Murder threat' to C. Divakaran

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has said that Food and Civil Supplies Minister C. Divakaran has not so far told him about any threat to his life.

There have been reports in a section of the media that the Minister had received a murder threat following the campaign launched by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) Government against those involved in corrupt deals in the Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation (Supplyco).

Replying to a question at a press conference here on Saturday, Mr. Balakrishnan said the Minister might not have informed him about it because he himself had not taken it very seriously.

"We politicians get several such threats. Therefore, we do not take such things seriously," he said, adding that his information was that the Minister had received a threatening letter some months ago.

Mr. Balakrishnan asserted that the Government would not permit anyone to threaten Ministers.

The AITUC-led Supplyco Employees' Association has called for a comprehensive inquiry into the threat against the Food Minister. In a statement here on Saturday, association general secretary T.J. Anjelose said the Minister was targeted after he had unearthed massive corrupt deals involving top officials of Supplyco and traders.

These persons were targeting the Minister ever since, he said.

In yet another statement, association State secretary Pattom Sasidharan demanded that the probe must also cover the role of Supplyco chairman and managing director Jacob Thomas.

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