Cong asks CM to withdraw affidavit; give Lavalin case to CBI

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 3 (UNI) The Congress in Kerala today said the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) had lost moral rights to continue in office after a 'false affidavit' in the SNC Lavalin case in the High Court and asked the Chief Minister to go in for a CBI inquiry into the whole episode.

''The government has tried to mislead the High Court by filing an affidavit contrary to facts. Chief Minister Achutanandan, who had always fought corruption, should be bold enough to withdraw the affidavit and pursue a CBI inquiry into the SNC Lavalin issue,'' PCC President Ramesh Chennithala told reporters here.

The government had filed a petition in the HC seeking to withdraw the statement made by the then Advocate-General that the UDF decided to entrust the investigation to the CBI. The Government counsel pleaded that the UDF decision was taken in haste and without valid reason.

Alleging the government was fearing a CBI inquiry into the issue, Mr Chennithala said a vigilance probe would not bring out the truth.

UNI