Excursion controversy: Jenish Kumar behaved like an opposition MLA, CPI raises allegation

PATHANAMTHITTA: CPI district leadership has come out against MLA KU Jenish Kumar in taluk office employees’ excursion controversy. CPI district assistant secretary PR Gopinathan asked whether the MLA has the authority to sit on the Tehsildar's chair. “Jenish Kumar behaved like an opposition MLA.”, he said. He also criticized that the MLA's actions sent a message that the revenue department and the government were bad. He said that MLA's attitude is immature.

“CPM should check whether MLA's action was correct. CPI will inform CPM about this. Employees took leave only after applying for leave. Eight of those who were not in the office yesterday were on survey duty. It is not true that the office was closed and the employees left.”, he added. He said that there are doubts whether there is a conspiracy behind it to make things bigger.

Yesterday, MLA KU Jenish Kumar came to the office after learning about the incident that Konni taluk office employees took mass leave and went on a group excursion. Then the MLA checked the attendance register. He then asked the employees in the office to write ‘leave in red ink’ against the names of those who did not sign. Later, tasked the ADM for the preliminary investigation. He came to the office yesterday and checked the attendance book. But today, the MLA came forward severely criticizing the ADM who conducted the preliminary investigation.

“ADM is protecting the employees. A complaint will be filed against the ADM to the Chief Minister and the Speaker. An MLA can inspect documents of non-confidential nature in an office. That is why the documents were given when I asked for them. When I received a call from a channel seeking response on the issue, I called the ADM and asked to investigate the incident. He was not ready for that. I reached the taluk office knowing that people were protesting. Iwas still polite. 21 people signed the attendance register. There weren't that many people there. I have not checked the movement register. When ADM came to inspect this, I was not called. When I called the ADM after his inspection, he did not respond. ADM has insulted me.”, Janish Kumar accused.