'Usual firebrand critic Riyas now keeping mouth shut' ; union minister V Muraleedharan on monthly salary controversy

KOLLAM: Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan chided Kerala minister P. A. Mohammed Riyas for remaining tight-lipped in the ongoing monthly salary scam that has his wife Veena Vijayan involved. He said that Congress is not interested in raising the issue in the assembly and ridiculed current Congress leadership for playing second fiddle to Pinarayi Vijayan.

"Son-in-law minister is undergoing a three-day Mouna Viratham. He is hiding behind his residence and is not ready to appear before the media. Usually, the same son-in-law minister is chatty and cranes his neck into all issues happening in the country. But when it came to addressing the monthly salary controversy of his father-in-law Pinarayi Vijayan and wife Veena Vijayan, he is showing dead silence. This is the Pinarayi Vijayan the media christened as ‘captain’; the same captain who goes into hiding when a controversy erupts within his family.” V Muraleedharan said.

Minister also said that BJP will submit nominations at the right time in Puthuppally.