Oppn demands Kerala FM's resignation over budget leak

The alleged leak of the Kerala budget proposals from Finance Minister T M Thomas Isaac's office triggered a major row today with the UDF and the BJP demanding his resignation.
Unfazed in the midst of protests from the UDF and the BJP over the leak before the budget presentation in the Assembly, Isaac said only some highlights, which was to be released to the media later, had surfaced on the social media.
However, the LDF government acted swiftly and removed Manoj K Puthiyavila, Assistant Private Secretary of finance minister, over the leak.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan maintained that the budget details had not been leaked but assured the Opposition that their charges would be looked into.

UDF members led by Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala met Governor Justice P Sathasivam this evening and handed over a memorandum, apprising him of the leaking.
They demanded Isaac's resignation from his post and said a new finance minister should present a new budget.

"We met the Governor and informed him about the leakage. We said a new finance minister should present a fresh budget," Chennithala said while talking to reporters after the meeting.
The governor informed the delegation that he would apprise the chief minister of the matter, he said.
"Budget presentation is a sacred event in the house. Even before it was presented, all Kerala media and social media had received details of revenue expenditure, revenue deficit and capital expenditure," Chennithala said.

"Sanctity of the budget is lost and this is a criminal offence," he said adding that the lapse on the part of finance minister and that of his office cannot be condoned.
"This is a serious lapse and finance minister should resign," Chennithala said.
IUML leader M K Muneer said that the governor, Speaker and chief minister should seek Isaac's resignation.
The BJP also joined in, demanding that Isaac should step down in the light of the alleged leak.
"The budget was a total failure. It does not have anything to do with reality and has failed to suggest remedies to overcome the financial crisis which has gripped the state," state BJP chief Kummanam Rajasekharan said at Kottayam.

Instead of suggesting remedies to overcome the financial crisis which has gripped the state, the state was shifting its responsibility to the Centre, blaming demonetisation for the present crisis, he said.
Meanwhile, the governor's office said the petition of Opposition leaders has been forwarded to the chief minister for examination for appropriate action.