Antony is 'Mauni Baba', says VS

KOCHI: Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan Wednesday lashed out at Defence Minister A K Antony describing him as 'Mauni baba', maintaining a stoic silence even as various corruption cases surfaced in the Centre.


"In various corruption cases to hit the UPA government, including 2G and Adarsh housing scam, Antony had remained a mute spectator like 'Mauni baba', he said at a meet-the-press programme at Ernakulam Press club here.


He slammed Antony for failing to take the initiative to sort out the issue of Irom Sharmila who has been on indefinite fast since the past 11 years in Manipur, demanding repealing of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act.


VS alleged that UDF had engineered the resignation of Neyyatinkara CPI (M) MLA R Selvaraj to make way for another bypoll after it became clear to them that they would lose the Piravom by-election.


He admitted that the resignation of Selvaraj had caught CPI (M) leaders unawares which was a serious mistake.


On the UDF's slogan of 'speedy and faster development', he said it would wreak havoc in the state.


VS also alleged Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had through government chief whip P C George levelled charges against Thiruvananthapuram Vigilance judge, who had ordered further investigation in the palmolein import case.