Opposition boycotts Assembly

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, OCT. 17. The Opposition boycotted the Assembly towards the fag end of the sitting on Wednesday demanding a judicial inquiry into the award of consultancy contract for the Japan-aided Kerala Water Supply Project.

The Opposition, which raised allegations directed at the Chief Minister, Mr. A. K. Antony, and the AICC again today, was dissatisfied with the Chief Minister's offer that a CBI inquiry could be ordered into the whole affair.

After the Opposition walked out, the Chief Minister told the House that the Cabinet meeting this evening would review the contract in view of the ruckus being generated over the issue. ``I want everything to be transparent. The Cabinet will look for a solution to the issue.''

Mr. Antony, who was replying to the debate on the demands for grants for Police, Jails, Administration of Justice and Stationery and Printing and other Administrative Services, said that the Opposition was running away from a CBI inquiry as that would bring out the omissions and commissions of the previous Government also.

The LDF had not shown willingness to order even a simple inquiry into various allegations against Ministers when in power.

He said that the allegation linking the AICC and the payment of his Bill for air travel by the AICC was a pure fabrication.

He had not met the representatives of the consulting company, Pacific Consultants International (PCI), in Delhi. He met the representatives of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), which provides the loan for the project, in Thiruvananthapuram on July 13.

This was in the presence of others, including the Irrigation Minister, Mr. T. M. Jacob, Government secretaries, Mr. Elias George, Mr. P. K. Sivanandan, Mr. Gopalkrishna Pillai and Mr. K. Jayakumar, and the Managing Director of the Kerala Water Authority, Mr. Balachandran Nair.

However, the Opposition was trying to create an impression that he met the Japanese team alone. The Opposition could not be allowed to create a smokescreen over the issue like this.

He had favoured the project with the sole intention of getting water to the people. If the PCI's agents had met anyone, it was neither him nor Mr. Jacob. They had met Mr. E. K. Nayanar when he was the Chief Minister and this should have been with the knowledge of Mr. V.S. Achuthanandan, who was the LDF convener then.

Police investigations

The Chief Minister said that his Government would not allow extra constitutional authorities to interfere with police investigations as in the past.

The police could fearlessly carry out their duties in accordance with the law. They should not misbehave with legislators or the public, but should show necessary courtesy to those coming to the office. However, their decisions should be fair.

The police, he said, should help the Scheduled Castes and Tribes more. Atrocities against women should be put down. The activities of liquor mafias should be curbed.

Mr. Antony noted that the Khalid Commission had criticised the deeds of the CPI(M) cadre at the Nirmalgiri college. At least now, the party should keep its cadres on leash.

After the Chief Minister's reply, the House passed demands totalling Rs. 227.78 crores, in the absence of the Opposition.

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Section  : Southern States
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