Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan said Thiruvananthapuram on Monday that lottery operators would not be allowed to exploit people as long as his government was in power.
Replying to questions from the media at a press conference, the Chief Minister noted that other State lotteries had not been able to operate for the past five months.
Mr. Achuthanandan said he had no knowledge of any decision of the CPI(M) Polit Bureau to reprimand him for seeking a CBI inquiry into the irregularities related to the running of the Sikkim and Bhutan lotteries. None other than the media would say that his party was against suppressing the lottery mafia. “You know my stand in the matter.”
He also refuted the allegation that there was no proper coordination between the government and the party. Asked about his five-year-old promise that the government would take action against those who had committed atrocities against women, the Chief Minister reiterated that they would be arrested. “You will see them paraded before the end of the term of this government.”
On the observation of the High Court that lack of coordination between various departments had led to the stampede at Sabarimala, Mr. Achuthanandan said action would be taken against those responsible on the basis of the findings in the proposed judicial inquiry.
The Chief Minister observed that the Centre was refusing aid to the State to expand the public distribution system and bring down the prices. It had catergorised the public distribution system based on income and failed to carry out its promise to supply rice at Rs. 3 a kg. On the other hand, the oil companies, in consultation with the Centre, had increased prices of petroleum products several times over the past six months causing further increase in commodity prices.
Referring to a march being taken out by the Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy "to save the people from the LDF government," Mr. Achuthanandan remarked that Mr. Chandy should be leading the march to Delhi demanding rice at lower prices, reduction in price of petrol, health insurance and strengthening of the public distribution system.
