The Hindu : Bid to tarnish my Govt's image: Antony

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jun 29, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

Bid to tarnish my Govt's image: Antony

By Our Staff Reporter

PATHANAMTHITTA June 28 . The Kerala Chief Minister, A.K.Antony, has said that there is every reason to suspect a conspiracy by certain unholy quarters to tarnish his Government's image.

Talking to the media persons here today, Mr. Antony said he had always been a friend and well-wisher of the Fourth Estate, as it had to play a key role in the overall development of the State.

Reacting to a question on Thursday's raid on the Surya TV office, Mr. Antony said that a criminal offence, whether it was committed by a press person, a politician or anybody else, would be a criminal offence and the investigating agency had been given a free hand to deal with such cases.

He said that it was unethical to level baseless charges against the State Government or a Cabinet Minister. If a television network had levelled certain grave charges against a Minister, it was expected to produce the relevant documents too to support the allegations.

Unlike the arrest of the Crime magazine editor by the previous LDF Government in the dead of night in 1999, the police investigation team had informed the Surya TV people that they were to be interrogated on Thursday and it was done in day- time only, he said.

``If the TV people have the supporting documents with them, then what is the hitch in presenting it before a competent investigating agency and establishing their credibility?'' the Chief Minister asked. The common people have the right to know the truth behind the whole issue. If the document with the TV channel was a forged one, that too should be exposed and the culprits be brought to book, he said.

Asked whether the alleged conspiracy against his Government was part of a game plan to unseat him, Mr. Antony said he had never taken the Chief Minister's `seat' as unshakable or permanent. However, he made it clear that he very much meant business as long as he was in power.

On the reported criticism by the Nair Service Society that the education policy followed by the successive Governments in the State was pro-rich and aimed at appeasing the minority communities, Mr. Antony clarified that his Government was committed to give equal treatment to all sections of society.

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