Conspirators in UDF camp: CM Pinarayi Vijayan

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan warned the UDF that if they showed over enthusiasm in pursuing the Lavalin case, it would boomerang on them. Replying to the demand for an adjournment motion by K. C. Joseph, seeking the resignation of health minister K. K. Shylaja in the assembly on Thursday, he said if someone tried to trace the conspirators, it would reach the UDF camp.

The CBI could not garner substantial evidence, he said. However, they were forced to probe the case to fix him, and the structural deficiencies in the case remained unaddressed. "Right from the beginning, I was convinced that the case would not stand legal scrutiny. I was not at all concerned about its outcome," he said. "The party stand that it would fight the case legally and politically has been proven correct."

He said without naming anybody but apparently referring to A K Antony that a former chief minister who was not a member of the House at present had warned Congress high-power committee during a meeting against pursuing the case saying that it would be traced back to him. However, some leaders were keen on pursuing the issue on the strength of the findings in a Comptroller and Auditor General report on the deal. A vigilance inquiry could not find anything against him. However, once the Left parties withdrew support to the UPI government, the issue was raked up by the Congress and entrusted the case with the CBI.