Cong MLA seeks vigilance probe into allegations against Kerala CM's daughter; lodges complaint
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan lodged a complaint with the state Vigilance Director on Thursday seeking a probe into a corruption allegation against an IT company owned by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's daughter T Veena.
Media reports about some financial transactions between a private minerals company and CM's daughter's IT firm had triggered a huge political controversy in the southern state recently.
The Muvattupuzha legislator said he submitted the complaint letter and handed over substantial evidence to prove the charges to the anti-corruption agency.
The MLA said that though he had raised the issue several times, including in the assembly, he had not received any convincing reply from the chief minister.
Kuzhalnadan said he was launching the second phase of his battle against this corruption, and "it is a legal fight."
"I lodged the complaint with the Vigilance Director, seeking to register a case into the issue under the Prevention of Corruption Act and investigate the matter," he told reporters outside the Vigilance Directorate here.
The Congress leader also criticised the chief minister for not giving any convincing reply to the charges that cropped up against him and his family.
He further said that the charges were made not to create a 'smokescreen' of doubts, and no concerned persons had given any reply to his questions so far.
"I have all the permission and support of my party in this fight," Kuzhalnadan said.
A controversy erupted in Kerala recently over some financial transactions between a Kochi-based private minerals company and CM Vijayan's daughter Veena and her IT firm.
Evidence also cropped up that showed that the company had dealings with top leaders of both the ruling CPI(M) as well as the opposition Congress-led UDF.
The issue came to the fore after a Malayalam daily reported that Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd paid a total of Rs 1.72 crore to the CM's daughter between 2017 and 2020.
The news report, citing the recent ruling of an Interim Board for Settlement, said that the Kochi-based company previously had an agreement with Veena's IT firm for consultancy and software support services.
Despite the fact that no service was rendered by her firm, the amount was paid on a monthly basis "due to her relationship with a prominent person", the report said, citing the deposition of the minerals company authorities before the Income Tax Department.
However, Vijayan had rubbished the charges and said the allegations were made to tarnish his image and defame him.
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Unruly scenes witnessed in Punjab Assembly
Chandigarh (PTI): The Punjab Assembly on Friday witnessed high drama on Friday after Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira made an allegedly objectionable remark against Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann during an intense argument over the alleged use of mobile phone in the house by the legislator.
During the one-day special session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha here, Mann accused Khaira of using a mobile phone when Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan was reading out an official resolution on the revision of wages.
After rising from his seat, the chief minister pointed to the speaker, claiming that Khaira is busy on his mobile phone and urged him to ask the Congress MLA what Sandhwan had said about the resolution.
The speaker then asked Khaira to maintain order in the house and listen to the resolution carefully.
Mann then asked Khaira, "Why don't you go out and then use it (mobile phone)," which led to a strong verbal altercation during which the opposition MLA hurled an accusation against the chief minister. Meanwhile, the speaker appealed for order and insisted that the chair be addressed.
However, both Mann and Khaira continued arguing and could be seen pointing fingers at each other as the proceedings of the house were disrupted.
The AAP MLAs also rose from their seats with Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema condemning Khaira for his conduct and demanded action against him.
Cheema further alleged that Khaira "always tries to disturb the house" as he spoke about his conduct in the assembly.
The incident occurred as an official resolution on the revision of wages was presented at the special session by Labour Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond who said it paid homage to labourers on the International Workers' Day.
"Workers are the axis of construction of the nation, the community, the state and society. Every construction project succeeds only through their blood and sweat," the resolution read.
As per the resolution, "The base rate of minimum wages for the working class in Punjab was last revised in the year 2012. Although the dearness allowance has continued to increase since 2012, there has been no increase in the base rate of minimum wages.
On this sacred occasion of May Day, in this special session of the legislative assembly, this house proposes to revise and increase the minimum wages of labourers and strongly recommends to the government to take a decision regarding the increase of minimum wages for workers, so that the contributions of the workers can be acknowledged." PRK
