CPI holds UDF responsible for 'unprecedented situation' in Kerala

Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D. Raja on Friday held the UDF Government in Kerala squarely responsible for the unprecedented situation in the state and said Finance Minister K.M. Mani should have morally resigned.

Raja said the LDF has rightly demanded the Finance Minister's resignation but the UDF has not conceded the demand.

"UDF allowed him to continue as the Finance Minister, UDF allowed him to present the budget. It is really an unprecedented situation in Kerala. UDF should be squarely held responsible for such a situation. It is the creation of UDF and there is nothing to blame the LDF," Raja told ANI here.

"LDF has taken up a very genuine issue of corruption and bribery. Morally speaking, his position had become untenable long back, he should have stepped down but he remained," he added.

The CPI leader further said that there are very serious allegations against the state's Finance Minister.

"It is widely reported at national level how the bribery case took place in Kerala which is directly against the Finance Minister himself," he added.

There was chaos in the Kerala Assembly earlier today as leaders of the opposition tried to prevent Mani, who is facing a vigilance probe in the bar scam case, from presenting the state budget.

Several MLAs were injured in the clash that took place inside the assembly. The Speaker's chair and mics were thrown as Mani read out the budget surrounded by his party men and security personnel.

Violent protest was also witnessed outside the Kerala Assembly.

The CPI (M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), which has been demanding Mani's resignation, has alleged that the Finance Minister accepted a bribe of Rs. one crore to renew licences of bars that were shut down by the administration.