Vijayan is being unfairly targeted: CPI(M)

The CPI(M) came out strongly in support of its Kerala secretary Pinarayi Vijayan who faces corruption charges in the SNC Lavalin scam being investigated by the CBI.

The decision by the party polit bureau was a snub to Kerala chief minister VS Achutanandan who insists on Vijayan’s removal from his post due to charges of alleged involvement in the scam. The party may take a decision on Achutanandan’s continuation as CM later, unwilling to rock the boat given the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

“The Polit Bureau reiterated its position that the involvement of Com. Pinarayi Vijayan in the SNC Lavalin case is politically motivated,” said a statement released after the day-long meeting held on Saturday. CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat said the decision to set up the project was taken during United Democratic Front (UDF)government headed by the Congress. “But every time an elections is due, the Congress brings up the case. It did this during panchayat elections, in the 2006 assembly elections and has done it now at the time of Lok Sabha elections,” said Karat.

He said it was unfortunate that the CBI, is not immune from political pressure and influence of the ruling party at the Centre. The Congress is well known for misusing the CBI and even the supreme court told it bluntly not to act at the behest of the Centre, Prakash said.