Chandy seeks appology from CM over media syndicate charge

Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 31 (UNI) Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly Oommen Chandy today sought an appology from Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan for making 'baseless allegations' that certain media groups had accepted money from the American CIA.

'The Chief Minister should either hand over proof to investigating agencies or tender an open appology for making baseless allegations against the media,' he told newspersons here today.

He said the Congress too was the butt of criticism from the media during the peak of groupism in the state unit. But it never launched an assault on the media, he said, adding, the CPI(M) was worried over media reports regarding intense factionalism within the party.

Referring to the delay in handing over the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology here to the Centre, he said there was a lapse on the part of the Chief Minister in this regard. Due to the delay in handing it over during the current financial year, the Biotechnology Centre had lost at least Rs 30 crore this year, he said.

On the decision to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first EMS Government in Kerala, Mr Chandy said it was not an appropriate time to celebrate the event by spending lakhs of rupees when the state was reeling under unprecedented drought.

The government should pay more attention to drought relief.

UNI