'HC verdict a moral victory for UDF'

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JULY 8. The Congress(I) legislature party deputy leader, Mr. G. Karthikeyan, and the CLP secretary, Mr. Aryadan Mohammed, today asserted that the High Court verdict on the Plus Two school list was a moral victory for the UDF as it vindicated the Opposition coalition's charges regarding corruption, nepotism and irregularities in the sanction of schools.

At a press conference here today, the leaders reiterated the UDF demand for the Chief Minister's resignation. They said that the very fact that the Government had decided against appealing against the court verdict amounted to a confession that irregularities had indeed taken place. The Government decision was contrary to the usual practice of to appeal against court verdict, they added.

The Opposition had also demanded adequate Plus Two schools in feeder areas and in economically and socially backward areas. The court had made a special reference to this, they pointed out. The Education Minister, Mr P J Joseph's claim that the verdict was a recognition of the Government's position was one of the greatest jokes of the century.

The CPI(M) secretariat member, Mr Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, has said that the CPI(M) was involved only in the policy formulation and the implementation was the responsibility of the officials of the Education Department. This statement reflected the double standards of the CPI(M), which was now trying to put the blame on Mr. Joseph.

Condemning this stand, the two leaders said that none of the LDF partners could escape from the collective responsibility on this issue. In this context, the Opposition was justified in demanding the resignation of the Nayanar Government, they said and added that the UDF was united in its move to continue its ongoing stir till Mr Joseph resigned from office.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : Conflicting views on violence against Christians
Next     : Demand for halt at Varkala