CPI(M) controls police in Kerala: UDF

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 29: Congress-led UDF Opposition in Kerala today alleged that CPI(M), the lead partner in the ruling LDF, was controlling the police force and also politicising distribution of welfare and social security pensions of the government.

CPI(M) has "sway over the police force" in the state and officers who did not "dance" in tune with the diktat of the party was being transfered violating norms, Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala told reporters here.

Latest example was shifting of a police official who was investigating the case connected with the murder of IUML worker allegedly by a CPI(M) youth wing activist at Mallapuram, Chennithala said.

On the recent government decision to distribute welfare and social security pensions to beneficiaries through Co-operative banks and societies, he said "we are not against the decision. But, majority of primary societies selected for distributing cash was under the administration of CPI-M".

"The list of Co-operatives were prepared at the CPI-M office. The Co-operative registrar has been made rubber stamp," Chennithala alleged and demanded government to have a re-look into the issue. CPI-M men were making the distribution of welfare pension of the government as a party function. LDF government, ahead of the Onam festival that falls in September, has entrusted co-operative Banks to speed up pension distribution, he said.

He also questioned Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's call to avoid Onam festivities by government staff during duty hours in offices.

"It is ridiculous that a Chief Minister, who extended support for the general strike of workers on September 2, was asking employees to abstain from festivities", Chennithala said, adding, there was nothing wrong in having Onam festivities in offices that would last for just an hour.

To a question on further probe against former Finance Minister K M Mani in the bar bribery scam, he said the allegations have been probed two times and "Mani was given clean chit. It is a fact. But, now the court has made the order and it is not proper to criticise that. Let inquiry be held", he said. Regarding Congress affairs in the state, he said the proposed political affairs committee would discuss various issues and take decision.

"Once high command announce the Committee, all Congressmen in the state will accept it". Setting up a political affairs committee for the state was one of the consensus arrived by Congress leaders in a bid to end groupism in the party in the state.

PTI