After failing in its efforts to get the Opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) to launch a joint stir for the ouster of Finance Minister K.M. Mani over the bar bribery allegations, the State unit of the Communist Party of India (CPI) on Wednesday took out a Secretariat march on its own, with the declaration that it was not ready for ‘fixed’ agitations.
Addressing party workers who converged before the Secretariat, CPI State secretary Pannian Ravindran and assistant secretary Prakash Babu said the CPI was forced to launch the agitation on its own because it did not wish to be privy to corruption. “There is a talk that Mr. Mani is a good person and fit to be the Chief Minister. That will not wash with us,” Mr. Ravindran said, in a veiled reference to reports that the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI-M] wanted to make Mr. Mani the Chief Minister.
Tax burdenMr. Ravindran said he did not wish to say much about how the LDF stir against additional taxes levied by the Oommen Chandy government recently ended prematurely.
The government had proposed taxes aimed at mobilising Rs.1,499 crore in the Budget. Subsequently, it increased various taxes twice in the name of bridging the shortfall on account of liquor sale ban.
It also increased power charges and bus fares. All this had placed a heavy burden on the people, he added.
Mr. Ravindran said the CPI did not believe that the ongoing Vigilance probe would bring out the truth about the bribery charge raised by bar owners.
Legal actionThe party was determined to carry on with its agitation to press for Mr. Mani’s ouster.
It would adopt legal measures as well as agitations to achieve this. Mr. Mani should quit. In case, he does not, the Chief Minister should expel him from the Cabinet.
The State government should immediately order a judicial inquiry into the allegations against Mr. Mani and also who got the remaining Rs.4 crore.
It was clear that the money was paid to Congress Ministers, the CPI leader said.
