CPM accusing UDF out of fear, says Chandy

CPI-M's charge that UDF leaders were "pressurising" the Governor to give sanction to the CBI to prosecute CPI-M state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan in the SNC-Lavalin corruption case was out of their "innate fear", Congress leader Oommen Chandy said on Saturday.

CPI-M's charge that UDF leaders were "pressurising" the Governor to give sanction to the CBI to prosecute CPI-M state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan in the SNC-Lavalin corruption case was out of their "innate fear", Congress leader Oommen Chandy said on Saturday.

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"CPI-M is being haunted by the fear that Vijayan would have to face legal action if the Governor intervenes in the case. LDF has been trying to avoid legal action against Vijayan ever since they assumed office three years back," the Leader of Opposition said in a statement in Thiruvananthapuram.

UDF had requested that they should also be heard before the Chief Minister forwarded the government's recommendation to the Governor. UDF was forced to meet the Governor after the Chief Minister refused its request, he said.

Governor had every right to take an independent decision in the case. UDF only wanted to apprise him of their views, Chandy said.

UDF leaders had met the Governor and the memorandum submitted to him was publicised. It was meaningless on the part of CPI-M to say that UDF had tarnished the sanctity of the Governor's post, he said.

UDF only wanted CPI-M to stick to their original stand that the Lavalin case would be challenged through political and legal means, he added.