Achuthanandan’s anti-graft attack only for publicity: Congress

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Congress party’s Kerala unit president Ramesh Chennithala Monday said Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan’s tirades against corruption were nothing but cheap publicity stunt.

In November last year, Achuthanandan wrote a letter to union Home Minister P. Chidhamabaram demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the activities of the lottery mafia operating in the state.

Addressing reporters here, Chennithala said he has a copy of Chidhamabaram’s letter to Achuthanandan, which says that the central government cannot suo moto ask for a CBI probe.

“The centre asked Achuthanandan to first register a case against the lottery mafia and then request for the CBI probe. Chidhamabaram wrote the letter Dec 29. Even after 55 days, the chief minister remains silent,” Chennithala said.

“This clearly shows that Achuthanandan only wanted to create an impression that he is tough on corruption. When it comes to real action, he is nowhere near to it,” said Chennithala.

“The chief minister is only fooling the people by pretending that he is against all evils,” added Chennithala.

The ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) was upset over the chief minister’s letter to Chidambaram, as it was sent without the party’s approval. The party leadership felt this was done to embarrass state Finance Minister Thomas Issac.