Kerala CM plays down controversy on letter to Prez

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 24: Kerala Chief Minister V SAchuthanandan today sought to play down the controversy over thealleged letter he had sent to President APJ Abdul Kalam recommendingelevation of Kerala High Court Chief Justice V K Bali to the SupremeCourt.

Replying to a question at a post-Cabinet briefing, he said asChief Minister he would discharge his constitutional responsibilitiesand he did not want to share them with the media.

The controversy arose after a newspaper reported that MrAchuthanandan had written to the President in December last favouringMr Justice Bali for appointment as a judge of the Supreme Court. CPI(M)feeder organisations like the DYFI and SFI had criticised Mr JusticeBali, who retired yesterday, for some of his recent judgements.

At the Cabinet briefing, Mr Achuthanandan also warned of sternaction against communal forces trying to create trouble and disturbpeace in connection with the proposed visit of Gujarat Chief MinisterNarendra Modi to the State on January 29.

Mr Modi is scheduled to address a Hindu Maha Mela being organisedby the Sangh Parivar here on that day as part of the birth centenary ofGuru Golwalker.

Mr Achuthanandan said the government would not allow to createcommunal tension and stern action would be taken against thos trying tocreate trouble.

UNI>