Thomas Issac, Kerala’s Finance Minister is the new addition to the list of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Higher education Minister K T Jaleel, Tourism Minister Kadakampalli Surendran, Cooperation Minister A C Moideen, having illegal dealings with Swapna Suresh, the kingpin of the gold smuggling scam and LIFE MISSION project.
The Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala and BJP Kerala president K Surendran alleged on Sunday that Issac was having illegal liaison with Swapna Suresh as the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) stated in its report that financial borrowings made by Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) were against constitutional provisions.
The CPI(M ) known for its value based politics till 1980s finds itself in an unenvious position with most leaders enmeshed in corruption charges, money laundering and drug trafficking.
Chennithala, in a no-holds barred attack on Issac alleged that the finance minister had illegal dealings with Swapna Suresh and the CAG has found out massive irregularities in the deals signed by KIIFB.
“The finance minister’s press meet on Sunday was to save Chief Minister from the repercussions of the CAG’s findings. Issac has committed procedural impropriety by holding a press briefing on CAG findings. The report should have been tabled on the legislative assembly for discussions and not before the press reporters,” said Chennithala.
Adding to the woes of the LDF Government, BJP leader Surendran alleged that it was to save Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan the finance minister rushed to the press as a pre-emptive move. We will prove the complicity of Vijayan in the deal at the right time,” said Surendran.
But Issac charged that the BJP and the Congress have joined hands to embarrass the Government in the KIIFB. Mathew Kuzhalnadan, a Kerala High Court lawyer has been chartered by Swadeshi Jagran Manch, to fight the case. Kuzhalnadan is a secretary of the KPCC and this has led to Issac and CPI(M) alleging of a BJP-Congress conspiracy to tarnish the image of the Government.
The minister refused to react to the CAG’s charge that Article 293(1) of the Constitution has been violated. The said Article states that “Subject to the provisions of this article, the executive power of a State extends to borrowing within the territory of India upon the security of the Consolidated Fund of the State within such limits, if any, as may from time to time be fixed by the Legislature of such State by law and to the giving of guarantees within such limits, if any, as may be so fixed”.