Kerala - Kochi   

VS told to come clean on land deal

Kochi: Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Ramesh Chennithala has said that Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan should stop playing hide-and-seek with the people of Kerala on the controversial sale of HMT land to a private builder and come clean on the issue.

The Chief Minister’s office knew about the land deal and he could not wash his hands of the affair by merely staying away from a public function organised by the company, said Mr. Chennithala on the sidelines of a summit on micro-credit organised as part of the launch of the Janasree Sustainable Development Mission here on Saturday.

Mr. Achuthanandan is using his skills as a public speaker to dodge the issue. He is under tremendous pressure to save his position as Chief Minister, he said. The Left Democratic Front government has failed to come clean on several issues including the Merchiston land deal and the Munnar eviction drive.

The State government is helping the ‘land mafia’ in a big way, he said.

Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy has demanded that Revenue Minister K.P. Rajendran and Industries Minister Elamaram Karim resign owning responsibility for the faux pas in the HMT land deal.

He has demanded a judicial inquiry, keeping the two Ministers out of office.

After visiting the land in Kalamasserry on Saturday, Mr. Chandy told presspersons that the Chief Minister would not be able to absolve himself of responsibility in the issue. Mr. Karim had stated that he had attended the foundation-laying ceremony of the controversial project after getting permission from the Chief Minister. The statement had not been denied.

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