LDF turns up the heat on Kerala FM Mani

Ramesh Chennithala says the VACB has not found Mani guilty of any offence.

The Opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) turned up the heat on Finance Minister K.M. Mani in the Assembly on Friday, making a strong pitch for his resignation and forcing the Chair to call off the sitting rushing through the day’s business.

As soon as Deputy Speaker N. Sakthan entered the House, Opposition members were on their feet demanding Mr. Mani’s resignation in the wake of the FIR filed against him by the Vigilance and Anti -Corruption Bureau (VACB) in the bar bribery case.

Holding up banners and placards, the LDF benches shouted slogans, ignoring pleas from the Chair to allow the question hour to begin. As the din continued for more than a minute, Mr. Sakthan announced temporary adjournment of the House and left the Chair.

Although the House reassembled a little later, it could not go beyond the zero hour, which saw the Opposition mounting a scathing attack on Mr. Mani and the government. Seeking leave for an adjournment motion on the issue, K. Suresh Kurup [CPI(M)] contended that Mr. Mani’s continuance in office could result in tampering of evidence.

Responding to the Opposition motion, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said the VACB had not found Mr. Mani guilty of any offence, though an FIR had been registered against him. The VACB had not checked the veracity of the charges against the Minister. It had acted in line with the Supreme Court directive that in the event of cognisable offence being found on a preliminary inquiry, an FIR should be registered, he said.

Intervening, Mr. Chandy said Mr. Mani had no special role in the decision to deny permission to reopen the closed bar hotels. That was a collective decision of the Cabinet. If persons holding public office were to quit in the wake of allegations or based on a FIR registered against them, it would set a wrong precedent, he said.

Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan said the government was shielding Mr. Mani by giving him a clean chit and hampering the Vigilance probe.

The Opposition members moved into the well of the House once the Chair denied leave for the motion, forcing early adjournment of the proceedings.