Congress continues its attack on CM over DGP's appointment

: The Congress in Kerala continued its attack on Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on the appointment of Loknath Behara as state police chief, demanding Tuesday that he explain the pressing hurry to appoint him to the post, disregarding the seniority of four IPS officers.

The Chief Minister should make it clear why a man removed from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) was appointed to the post, Kerala PCC President Mullapally Ramachandran told reporters here.

"Why was Behera appointed in a hurry? What was the pressing hurry for appointing him, disregarding the seniority of four IPS officers? Should not the official's credentials have been enquired into?", Ramachandran, a former minister of state for Home, asked.

Ramachandran had Saturday alleged that Behara was appointed state DGP at the behest of Modi after he, as senior NIA officer, gave him and BJP president Amit Shah a "clean chit" in the Gujarat riots and the Ishrat Jahan alleged fake encounter cases.

Ramachandran said he stood firm with the allegations he had levelled against Behera.

"I had made my views absolutely clear from the beginning. Immediately after his appointment, I made my stand clear. What more do you want?"