The Hindu : Front Page : Vellappally accepts Minister's challenge

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Saturday, Nov 05, 2005

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Vellappally accepts Minister's challenge

Staff Reporter

ALAPPUZHA: The row between Devaswom Minister K. C. Venugopal and SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan has taken a new turn. Mr. Natesan on Friday said that he was in possession of evidence to show that Mr. Venugopal had links with the New Delhi-based Eco-smart company, which had been entrusted with the task of preparing a masterplan for the development of Sabarimala.

Mr. Natesan said he was willing to hand over the evidence to the Chief Minister if he demanded. He was speaking after inaugurating the Sreedevi Auditorium at Marankulamgara Sree Bhagavathi Temple here jointly with NSS general secretary P. K. Narayana Panicker. Mr. Natesan said he was accepting the challenge of Mr. Venugopal to prove that there was corruption in entrusting Eco-Smart with the development of Sabarimala. He, however, said he was not demanding the resignation of Mr. Venugopal. Mr. Natesan said the Government was trying to `hijack' temples and `rob' Devaswom Boards of its wealth.

Mr. Panicker said the NSS and the SNDP had the same opinion regarding ending corruption in Devaswom Boards. The opinion of both the organisations was that if there was corruption, it should be investigated and proper action taken against the guilty.

Our Special Correspondent adds from Thiruvananthapuram: The Devaswom Minister said if Mr. Natesan had any record to prove that he was involved in corruption, he should hand it over to the Chief Minister.

He demanded that Mr. Natesan release such documents immediately to help the Government do justice. Mr. Venugopal said the onus was on Mr. Natesan to disclose the source from where he got the documents of a project about which the Government had no knowledge. Mr. Natesan was trying to create a smokescreen in order to save corrupt officials, especially after the Government issued orders blocking the recruitment in the TDB. He said Mr. Natesan had turned against him as the Government had initiated steps to appoint an additional member from the Scheduled Caste and Tribe communities. Mr. Venugopal said the Government did not have any project proposals before it relating to the development of Sabarimala.

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