Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 24 The opposition stepped up its attack on Keralam Chief Minister V D Satheesan over his recent chartered flight trip to rain-hit Malappuram, with CPI leaders posing questions about the undisclosed sponsor and the DYFI announcing a statewide protest seeking to identify the person who arranged the aircraft.
CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam sharply criticised Satheesan over the flight journey and sarcastically said Keralam must have been “astonished” to see such a Chief Minister.
He questioned whether the sponsor was someone whose name could not be disclosed and alleged that Satheesan forgets his responsibilities when he sees the rich.
Viswam also criticised the government’s foreign trips and ministers’ use of private vehicles, alleging that there has been no other government in the state which had been exposed so quickly.
Responding to a reporters’ question, CPI leader K Rajan said the Chief Minister’s response on the chartered flight trip amounted to a challenge to the people.
“Those in power had an obligation to be accountable to the public and the mystery surrounding the flight was increasing with every passing moment,” he said.
The CM’s journeys should be transparent, Rajan said, adding that there was nothing wrong in the CM travelling anywhere during a disaster, but the details of such journeys should be made public.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), the youth outfit of the opposition CPI (M), has announced a statewide protest programme against Satheesan’s stand that the details of the sponsor would not be disclosed.
As part of the programme, a drawing competition was held at Palakkad Fort, with an “emergency light” to be given as a prize to those who accurately draw the face of the alleged sponsor, DYFI leaders said.
The opposition’s criticism comes amid a wider controversy over recent foreign trips by ministers, Satheesan’s chartered flight to rain-hit Malappuram and Local Self-Government Minister K M Shaji’s use of a luxury car owned by a friend as his official vehicle.
Satheesan on Wednesday declined to disclose who sponsored his recent chartered flight to Malappuram, saying no government money was spent on the journey and that he would continue to use such services when required. He said the aircraft had been arranged by an acquaintance.
The Chief Minister had also defended the sponsored foreign trips of his Cabinet colleagues, saying there was nothing wrong with individuals or organisations arranging their tickets for official programmes when no expense was incurred by the state exchequer.
Satheesan had referred to former chief ministers Pinarayi Vijayan and Oommen Chandy, saying they too had travelled in aircraft arranged by private individuals.
(PTI News)
