Graft a menace: AK Antony

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In what is seen as a shrewd election-eve game plan to somehow extricate the Congress from the swirling corruption charges, three senior Congress leaders separately hit out at the phenomenon that has severely dented the image of the UDF government.

Congress Working Committee member A K Antony, as is his wont when things go out of control in the UDF, said corruption had spread to all areas of the society.

Congress vice president V D Satheeshan, in an interview to a private channel, said that the corruption scandals had cast a shadow on the Oommen Chandy government and even indirectly hinted at the need for a change in leadership. He said that the party was not pressing for a change of leadership because the local body elections were nearing close.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, too, took strong exception to corruption but sought to subtly distance himself and his party from any wrongdoing.

“Those indulging in corruption are cutting the very branch on which they are seated,” Chandy said, a comment interpreted as being hurled at allies against whom charges of corruption have been made. It is said that the Chief Minister was also trying to create for himself the image of a leader victimised by overbearing alliance partners.

Antony said that the state government should take a stand against corruption. “It is everywhere, in the government, in local bodies, in the appointments of teachers to private colleges. No single department can be singled out as free of its influence,” he said at a function here on Friday.

He said that the malaise could be checked only if government employees come out and fight. Home minister Ramesh Chennithala said that he fully agreed with Antony’s observations.

“Though Vigilance is the agency to check corruption, it would be far more effective if government employees, too, join the fight,” the minister said.