The CPI(M) sees a political motive behind raking up the SNC-Lavalin corruption case ahead of the Lok Sabha election.
Party State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan told the media in Kozhikode on Sunday that the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) plea in the Supreme Court seeking Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s trial in the case was part of a ‘‘political agenda’’ of the Congress and the BJP. Mr. Balakrishnan said that Mr. Vijayan was not an accused in the corruption case.
He alleged that the Lavalin case had become a political weapon to be used ahead of each Lok Sabha election. The CPI(M) leader said that truth would prevail in the Supreme Court too as it happened in the CBI court and the Kerala High Court. The party would deal with legal issues in the court, Mr. Balakrishan said.
‘UDF stand justified’
Mr. Balakrishnan should not be upset with the stance taken by the CBI in the Supreme Court that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan should face trial in the SNC-Lavalin corruption case, Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala has said.
Speaking to reporters in Alappuzha on Sunday, Mr. Chennithala said the CBI’s decision to challenge the High Court’s order discharging Mr. Vijayan and others in the case should not be seen as politically motivated. “The CBI’s decision has justified the earlier allegations. The Chief Minister should make his stance clear on the matter,’’ he said.
Setback for CM: Hassan
Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president M.M. Hassan said the CBI stand in the Supreme Court that Mr. Vijayan should stand trial in the Lavalin case was a major set back for him.
He said in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday that the UDF had consistently held the view that Mr. Vijayan was the main person behind clinching the Lavalin deal, upgrading a consultancy agreement into a supplier’s contract. The CBI investigation had virtually upheld this viewpoint, he added.