CPI not for CBI, judicial inquiry into ISRO land deal

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 15 (UNI) Asserting that there was no need for a judicial or CBI inquiry into the controversial ISRO land deal, the CPI, a constituent of the ruling Left Democratic Front in Kerala, today said the ongoing departmental probe was sufficient to book the culprits in the deal.

Briefing reporters after the party's state council meeting here, state Secretary Veliyam Bharghavan said neither the Ministers nor the government was involved in the deal and claimed that it was executed by certain officials.

However, the government would speed up the departmental inquiry and take stern action against errant officials in this regard, he said.

Stating that widespread corruptions had taken place during the previous United Democratic Front regime, he said all these should be probed.

Claiming that neither the government nor the Ministers concerned had done anything illegal in the deal, he alleged that the Opposition UDF was trying to level ''baseless corruption charges'' against the government to escape from inquiries.

Alleging that certain quarters, including a section of media, were trying to malign the image of the CPI, the senior Communist leader said such moves would never suppress the party or its spirit.

Charging that the UDF government was paving the way for individuals to have thousands of acres of government land illegally, Mr Bharghavan said the government would take all steps to reclaim such lands.

The Congress-led Opposition was also holding agitations and disrupting Assembly proceedings, seeking the resignation of Forest Minister Binoy Viswam, a CPI nominee, and demanding a CBI probe into his alleged involvement in the controversial sale of a part of Merchiston Estate by its owner to the ISRO for setting up an institute at Ponmudi here.

UNI