War of words in Assembly; Opposition leader questions if PSC membership was put up for auction

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan had a war of words in the Legislative Assembly on the allegation that the CPM leader demanded 60 lakhs from a Kozhikode doctor to become a PSC member and received 22 lakhs.

Presenting the submission, Satheesan alleged that the money was bought in the name of Minister Mohammad Riaz and he is trying to settle the matter by returning the money. The Chief Minister said that the government is ready to seriously investigate the complaints. No deviations of any kind will be accepted, no compromises of any kind will be accepted. Strict action will be taken against the wrongdoers. The Chief Minister retorted that what Satheesan is saying is the way of the Congress and it does not apply to the LDF and the government.

The Leader of the Opposition asked if the appointment of the PSC member was put up for auction. There was a similar allegation before. The phone conversation of Biju Abel Jacob, who was the private secretary of Minister AK Saseendran, has a bribe of lakhs. The post has been put up for auction without appointment by the Janata Dal-S. Allegations were also made against INL.

What is the credibility of interviews conducted by paid PSC members? Auctioning the membership at a time when lakhs of youth look forward to PSC is disgraceful to the state. Why is the complaint received by the ministers and leaders not given to the police? This is a serious offence. An FIR should be immediately investigated.

The youth leader who committed the scam is a close associate of ministers and MLAs. According to reports, Minister Riaz himself filed a complaint against the caucus. The opposition leader said that this means that there is a caucus in Kozhikode as well as in Kannur. Both the ruling party and the opposition, including the ministers, created a ruckus. The opposition staged a walkout.