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New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Kerala Public Works minister Riyas lashes out at Opposition over NH 66 allegations
KOZHIKODE: Dismissing Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan's allegations regarding the improper construction of NH 66 as politically motivated, Public Works Minister Mohamed Riyas has said the remarks were rooted in electoral insecurity, particularly with M Swaraj being fielded as the LDF candidate in Nilambur. 'The arrival of a strong LDF candidate like M Swaraj has clearly unsettled the opposition leader. That's why he's raising his voice and throwing around baseless allegations,' Riyas told reporters in Kozhikode on Sunday. He hinted that the opposition's sudden focus on national highway issues is an attempt to deflect attention from internal setbacks and the Congress party's questionable alliances. 'Those who speak about a CPM-BJP nexus should first explain what action they took in Thrissur, where it was the Congress that helped the lotus bloom. Who truly worked behind the scenes,' Riyas asked. Addressing the allegations regarding flaws in highway construction, the minister said, 'If any construction defect is found, we will definitely take action. But let's be clear, the responsibility for the construction lies with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), not the state government.'
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Karuvannur case: Will fight case politically and legally, says CPM
Thiruvananthapuram/Thrissur/Kannur: CPM state secretariat on Monday said enforcement directorate's (ED) move to implicate the party and its leaders in Karuvannur Cooperative Bank fraud case was politically motivated. The party stated it would face the case both politically and legally. "The move to hunt down CPM and party's top leaders in the state is against all democratic decency. CPM central committee member K Radhakrishnan, state committee members A C Moideen and M M Varghese were included in the chargesheet with political motives. As party district secretaries, all three tried to save the bank and expose the financial fraud," said the party in a statement. "The case filed against them won't stand before the law. Yet, they were included in the chargesheet to keep RSS in good humour," it added. The secretariat said state vigilance department found that ED officials were collecting large sums of money as bribes to settle cases. The agency hurriedly submitted the chargesheet to hide its embarrassment over the state agencies booking ED officials caught red-handed for corruption, the statement said. CPM state secretary MV Govindan, speaking to the media in Kannur, reiterated party's stand. ED is functioning as a tool to target opposition leaders and to protect those who associate with the ruling party at the Centre, he said. "The agency frames false cases on opposition leaders and demands bribes worth crores. They (ED) helped the accused in the Kodakara money laundering case. As many as 193 cases were registered by ED in last 10 years. But, the accused were convicted only in two cases," he said. He added that CPM didn't support anyone found guilty in the Karuvannur case. In a statement CPM Thrissur district secretary K V Abdul Khader said the names of reputed CPM leaders were included in the chargesheet as part of hunting opposition leaders being carried out by ED across the country, at Centre's behest. CPM former Thrissur district secretary A C Moideen, MLA, who is one of the accused in the case, said his party didn't have any role in the scam. CPI Thrissur district secretary K K Valsaraj also defended CPM leaders in the case and said the chargesheet submitted by ED was politically motivated. CPM-BJP deal, says Congress Meanwhile, Congress described it as part of a deal between CPM and BJP. Former opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala asked why CPM leaders weren't arrested so far, though ED chargesheet stated that they siphoned off Rs 180 crore from the money deposited in Karuvannur bank. "It is a BJP-CPM deal which is blocking the arrest of CPM leaders in such a massive scam. Even political novices in Kerala know that CPM leaders ensured the victory of BJP nominee in Thrissur Lok Sabha seat in last elections, to avoid their (CPM leaders') arrest in Karuvannur scam. ED generally frames cases for political objectives, and the agency is now detecting corruption cases related to CPM in Kerala to blackmail that party," Chennithala said in a statement. Congress former MLA Anil Akkara and DCC president Joseph Tajet alleged that the ED chargesheet was an attempt to provide an escape route to CPM leaders from the punishment they deserve. However, BJP welcomed the chargesheet and said it was the culmination of party's continuous efforts under the leadership of Union minister Suresh Gopi. BJP Thrissur City district president Justin Jacob alleged that CPM had usurped Rs 400 crore from Karuvannur Cooperative Bank, and said his party had been making consistent efforts to get justice for the depositors, who lost money.
Deccan Herald
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Deccan Herald
Bribery allegation against ED official a shot in arm for Opposition parties in Kerala
Satheesan however added that in Kerala ED cases against the CPM leaders were being sabotaged owing to CPM-BJP nexus.
