The brewing rift in the District Congress Committee (DCC) over the acquittal of 20 persons accused in the T.P. Chandrasekharan murder case had a new twist on Saturday with nine DCC office-bearers aligned with the Congress ‘I’ faction coming out with severe criticisms against Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan.
At a special press meet, the Congress leaders, including six DCC secretaries, two vice-presidents and a treasurer, said it was time Mr. Radhakrishnan thought of whether he was fit to continue in his post.
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They alleged that it was the slip in the police inquiry that resulted in the acquittal of the 20 accused in the case. The police did not even provide security to the witnesses in the case to “fearlessly” give their testimony. Even a Congress man and a police trainee turned hostile during the trial, which showed how lightly the Home Ministry treated the case, they said.
The disgruntled leaders said they would seek a CBI inquiry into the case to lock in big sharks involved in the murder.
The matter had already been discussed with Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Ramesh Chennithala, they said adding that Union Minister of State for Home Mullappally Ramachandran should end his silence on the issue.
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Solar scam
They also wanted Mr. Radhakrishhan to reveal what transpired at the talks he held with Communist Party of India (Marxist) State secretary Pinarayi Vijayan on the solar issue. “If he had made any unholy alliance with the CPI(M) for calling off its secretariat siege, it should be brought to light for clearing the anxiety of the public,” they said.
They also criticised DCC president K.C. Abu stating that his bid to defend Mr. Radhakrishnan was a mockery as he was not authorised to speak on behalf of the party on the issue.
The press conference was attended by DCC leaders I. Moosa, Achyuthan Puthiyedathu, Moosa Odampalakkil, K.C. Balakrishnan, P.K. Chacko, E.K. Gopalakrishnan, K. Balanarayanan and Manoly Hashim.
DCC chief’s response
Meanwhile, at a press meet, Mr. Abu responded that the DCC leaders aired their opinion without any consent from the DCC.
“I will submit a complaint to the KPCC on the issue and they should understand the fact that they are not authorised to assess the performance of any State Minister,” he said.