Kochi, Sep 25 Senior Congress leaders, including Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor, on Friday defended Keralam Chief Minister V D Satheesan’s use of a chartered flight, saying the emergency warranted the decision and rejecting Opposition criticism.
Radhakrishnan said he personally knew the family that provided the aircraft and there was no reason to make an issue of the matter.
Satheesan travelled by a chartered flight from Thiruvananthapuram to Karipur airport on September 21 to visit Nilambur, where six people died in a flash flood, drawing sharp criticism from the CPI(M)-led LDF.
The flight came under scrutiny after reports emerged that a private entity had sponsored it.
Radhakrishnan said that when an emergency occurs and the presence of a public representative is required, the mode of transport should not be an issue.
“If an incident occurs and we are convinced that our presence is required there, then whichever mode of transport it is, it is not an issue at all. We will go there,” he said.
Radhakrishnan dismissed concerns that the aircraft provider could expect favours from the government, saying the company belonged to someone from his constituency and that he personally knew the owner and his family, who were his voters.
He said the owner was a prominent Congress leader, while his wife owned the aircraft, adding that he knew the family well.
“These are people well-known to us,” he said.
On concerns over transparency and ethics, Radhakrishnan said there were no issues and that everything had been handled properly.
Responding to Opposition allegations that ministers travelled abroad on sponsored trips, he said ministers were required to follow prescribed procedures, including obtaining political and Central Government clearances and adhering to decisions of the state government.
Radhakrishnan said he had travelled abroad for a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association meeting as a state guest and believed official trips could take place after completing the required formalities.
On Local Self-Government Minister K M Shaji using a friend’s Range Rover as his official vehicle, Radhakrishnan said temporary arrangements should not be made into a major issue.
He compared the situation to getting into another person’s vehicle when one’s own car breaks down, saying such situations were a natural human response.
“None of this is a constitutional violation or against constitutional obligations. It is none of those. It’s an emotional question, and continuously heating that emotion doesn’t make it a relevant topic of discussion,” he said.
Tharoor said chief ministers across the country have access to aircraft and helicopters, and there was nothing wrong with Satheesan using a chartered flight to reach the site of the flash flood in Malappuram, where people had died.
“Across all states in our country, CMs always have access to planes and helicopters. Keralam alone, because of our unique mindset, does not accept such things easily,” he said.
Recalling that former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy used to travel by road, Tharoor said the situation could be different when a sudden tragedy occurs.
“I don’t see a big issue in the CM reaching there quickly, seeing the place, and meeting the people,” he said.
Tharoor said such a facility could be used when an emergency arises.
“When an emergency arises, and they quickly utilise a facility, people complain about it. I felt that was unfair,” he said.
He said the government should ideally have sufficient revenue to meet necessary expenditure, but the state’s financial situation did not allow for such spending.
“That is not our current situation. You have all heard about the state in which the previous LDF government left us,” Tharoor said.
He said Satheesan might have thought it was better not to spend government money when another option was available to reach the place quickly.
“Moreover, when someone pointed out a way to reach there quickly, he might have thought, ‘Why not use it?’ I don’t know. It is better to ask him directly,” Tharoor said.
LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan on Friday demanded a Vigilance probe into Keralam Chief Minister V D Satheesan over his alleged sponsored chartered-flight travel.
He alleged that the CM was repeatedly violating his oath of office and demanded a Vigilance investigation.
(PTI News)
