Ker Minister faces black flag demo by IUML activists over

Kerala Local Administration Minister K T Jaleel, facing charges of nepotism, was shown black flags by IUML activists here Thursday over the issue, police said.

The activists of the Muslim League, a partner of the opposition UDF, staged the blackflag demonstration against Jaleel when he was on his way to attend a function at a private college here.

They were removed by the police later.

The Muslim Youth League had on November 2 alleged Adeeb K T, a cousin of Jaleel, was appointed general manager in Kerala State Minorities Development Finance Corporation, flouting rules, a charge denied by the minister.

However, the Managing Director and Chairman of the Corporation A P Abdul Wahab came out in support of the minister, saying Adeep was appointed as only he was qualified.

Fresh nepotism charges have also come up against the minister after former Haj Committee members alleged favouritism in appointments at the Karippur Haj House.

Senior Congress leaders, including Oommen Chandy and Mullappally Ramachandran, have demanded the minister's resignation.

Opposition Congress and the BJP have been organising protests across the state demanding the resignation of Jaleel.

However, Jaleel Thursday reiterated that all the allegations against him were baseless.

He said the Muslim League was after him since 2006 when he won the assembly seat from Kuttipuram constituency.

Jaleel had left the Muslim League and contested the election as an independent candidate with the support of LDF.

The Minister also said that he was never asked to provide any explanation by the LDF.

Jaleel is the second minister of the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF government being caught in nepotism row.

In October 2016, just five months after coming to power, then Industries minister E P Jayarajan had to resign on a similar charge.

However, Jayarajan was reinstated as a minister in August this year after the vigilance and anti-corruption bureau, which probed the case, absolved him of the charges.