Kozhikode: Continuing his allegations on a secret pact between the Communist Party of India (Marxist) CPM and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Mullappally Ramachandran on Saturday alleged that the left party's continued silence in the controversial Rafale deal was due to fear over the SNC-Lavalin case.
"The CPM failed to even comment on one of the biggest corruption that the country faced. Their parliamentarians as well as Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his party here are silent on the issue. Pinarayi fears that any negative comments on the Rafale deal would turn against him, when the SNC-Lavalin files are already with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). If the CBI properly investigates the Lavalin case, the chief minister would be behind the bars. Recently, we heard Pinarayi saying that even if the Congress wins some seats, Rahul Gandhi will not be able to form a government in the Centre. This is equivalent to inviting Narendra Modi (as prime minister) again," Mullappally said during his Janamahayathra.
The SNC-Lavalin hydroelectric scandal has always a hot topic of discussion, targetting Pinarayi. The infrastructure contract with the Canadian company SNC-Lavalin when Pinarayi was the power minister in 1995 allegedly resulted in loss of more than Rs 374.5 crore to the exchequer according to the CAG. However, Pinarayi was acquitted by a CBI special court in 2013. Though the CBI appealed in the Kerala High Court in August 2017, Pinarayi, as well as two others were removed from the list of accused.
'Soft stance against Modi'
The KPCC chief also alleged that the CPM never took any strong stand against Modi in Parliament.
He also cited the instance of lone BJP legislator in Kerala Assembly O Rajagopal voting for CPM's P Sreeramakrishnan for the Speaker's post as a clear indication of the tie-up between the two parties.
Mullappally said that though the BJP had an option to adopt an equi-distant approach, Rajagopal chose to back the CPM candidate for the Speaker's post.
Union Minister Alphons Kannanthanam's visit to the CPM office soon after he took charge was also cited by Mullappally as a proof of the close link between the two parties.
"It was RSS/Jana Sangham that helped Pinarayi when he contested from Kuthuparamba in 1970. They even led his campaigns then. In return, the CPM supported Jana Sangh leader K G Marar at Uduma. The links between late CPM leaders E M S Namboodirippad and Harkishan Singh Surjeet with former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is already known to the public. Recently RSS leader from Kannur, Valasan Thillankery revealed that he was a 'bridge between the RSS and the CPM'. We will disclose more evidence of the unholy alliance between the two parties when the time demands," he said.
However, Mullappally, reserved any criticism on Nair Service Society (NSS) and stressed that it has a great legacy in the reformation of the Kerala society.
He also criticised CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan for his derogatory comments against the NSS.
