Ker FM asserts he will present budget

Unfazed by opposition LDF threat over the bar bribery charge against him, Kerala Finance Minister K M Mani today asserted that he himself would present the Budget in the Assembly on March 13.
"It is a Constitutional responsibility vested on me as a Finance Minister to present the budget. I hope Opposition will desist from their move to oppose it," he told reporters here.
Indicating a stormy budget day, CPI-M led LDF, gunning for the resignation of the Finance Minister over the bribery charges, has said it will not relented from its plan to prevent Mani from the presentation of state budget.

Mani rejected the allegations against him and said LDF was indulging in mudslinging to discredit the reputation of him by raking up "baseless charges".
He also rubbished the charge by MLA V Sivankutty (CPI-M) that he had illegally stayed revenue recovery proceedings to a tune of Rs 116 crore in favour of various business groups.
Issuing stay orders on genuine cases were normal practise during the time of all governments, he said, adding that this had happened during the previous LDF rule also.

Besides, LDF Opposition, Yuva Morcha activists of BJP has also announced their plan to stage a siege of Assembly on budget day to prevent Mani from presenting the budget.

Meanwhile, Mani has filed a defamation case seeking Rs 10 crore in damages against Kerala Bar Hotel Owners Association Working President Biju Ramesh, who levelled charges that Mani had accepted bribe for renewing bar hotel licences.
The case was filed at the Principal Session Court here today, official sources said.