Opposition leader seeks minister’s resignation for lying that number of accidents have come down with installation of AI cameras

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition leader V D Satheesan said the claim of the chief minister and the transport minister that the number of accidents has come down with the installation of AI cameras in the state, is a lie. The government also misled the high court besides repeating this lie in the assembly and outside. He also demanded the resignation of the transport minister who had tried to deceive the high court by giving false figures.

'The chief minister and the transport minister kept on repeating lies when transport minister’s reply remains before the public. As per the assembly records, there were 3714 accidents in June last year and 3787 accidents in June this year. There were 254 more accidents in July than last year. In August 2022, there were 3366 accidents and 307 accidental deaths, while in August this year there were 4006 accidents and 353 accidental deaths. Even the high court is being misled by giving false figures when the facts are like this, it is with ulterior motives', added the opposition leader.

‘The government is deliberately spreading false propaganda that there has been a reduction in road accidents to hide the loot done in the name of AI camera. The opposition levelled the allegation with documents proving that even the relatives of the chief minister were involved in the scam. The opposition approached the court when neither the chief minister nor the government was ready to respond or take action. Satheesan said that it is to be suspected that the false figures were made with the ulterior motive of weakening the case which is under the consideration of the court.’

The government and the CPM are on the defensive with the accusations of corruption in artificial intelligence camera deals turned to the chief minister and his office. How the project which could have been implemented at a cost of Rs 73 crore ended up with a cost of Rs 232 crore. The opposition has weaponized the fact that neither the government nor Keltron have given a definite answer to the questions about how the condition of pay-build-operate-transfer was changed to an annuity scheme where the money is transferred in advance year after year.

The allegations revolved around companies that had subcontracted from Keltron. The most important one was about a company called Prasadio. The mystery surrounding the company has prompted the opposition to focus its blame on the chief minister and his office.