Defending corrupt in high places Congress’ norm: CPI(M)

New Delhi: CPI(M) today targeted Congress high command, saying it has behaved true to its form and followed the norm of “defending the corrupt in high place” under the UPA government by not asking Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy to resign in connection with Solar scam.

The CPI(M) likened it to Congress’ claim of “no wrongdoing in the 2G spectrum allocations”.

“The Congress spokesperson stated that there is no need for Chandy to resign in the matter. By doing so, the Congress high command has behaved true to form. Defending the corrupt in high places was the norm during the UPA government’s tenure,” former CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat said.

Karat made the remarks in the editorial of forthcoming issue of party mouthpiece ‘People’s Democracy’.

Launching a stinging attack on Congress’ central leadership, Karat said according to it, there was “no wrongdoing in the 2G spectrum allocations, or, the coal allocations.”

“In the case of the solar panel scam, the paltry sum of Rs 7 crore swindled with the help of the Chief Minister and other Congress leaders, do not merit even being called corruption in the Congress lexicon,” he quipped.

Karat noted the Chandy Government “is using” stay given by High Court on a vigilance court directive in the Solar scam and another case involving state’s Excise Minister K Babu “to pose as if they have been exonerated of these charges”.

Both the cases are “haunting” the Congress and UDF Government led by it, Karat said, adding added that the longer Chandy refuses to quit, the more mortally his dispensation will be damaged.

“In three months from now, the people of Kerala are going to inflict a strong punishment on them in the assembly elections,” he added.