Government slams opposition LDF on graft

Thiruvananthapuram: The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government in the State has taken to task the Left opposition following the leakage of a statement of a former official of the state-run Malabar Cements alleging that former industries minister Elamaram Kareem accepted a bribe from businessman V.M. Radhakrishnan, a contractor with the company.

The statement, made two years ago and leaked in the media now, says Kareem, a CPI-M central committee member, took bribe when he was minister in the erstwhile Left Democratic Front (LDF) government during 2006-11. The motive of the bribe, however, is not known yet.

State Congress president V.M. Sudheeran has written to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy demanding a CBI probe into the alleged corruption in the state-run Malabar Cements.

The leakage about the corruption allegation has come handy for the government which has been targeted by the opposition in the recent past over various corruption allegations.

The Left opposition has been targeting the government over corruption charges and is demanding the resignation of Finance Minister K.M. Mani and Excise Minister K. Babu for their alleged role in the infamous 'bar scam'.

The opposition alleges that the ministers have taken bribe from bar owners to allow them to open their closed down bars.

Chief Minister Chandy was, however, cautious in his approach to the fresh leak. "All aspects will have to be looked into before a decision is made," said Chandy.

Meanwhile, leader of opposition V.S. Achuthanandan, who is known more as an anti-crusader, also demanded a CBI enquiry into the Malabar Cements official's allegations.