CM, Ministers must step down on HMT Deal: Mani

Kottayam, Feb 3 (UNI) Kerala Congress Leader K M Mani today contended the Chief Minister could not feign ignorance on the HMT Land Deal as the company had already written three letters to him in this connection in February, May and November.

At a news conference here, Mr Mani said the Chief Minister and Ministers involved in the deal should step down and a Judicial Inquiry conducted.

He also questioned the propriety behind the Chief Secretary holding an inquiry into a corruption issue in which ''the Chief Minister and other Ministers were involved.'' Referring to the CPI's demand to cancel the deal, he said if the the party was sincere, it should ask the Minister to step down.

Kerala Congress would intensify its agitation if the government did not conduct a judicial probe into the deal, he warned.

UNI VST LPB DB1841