CPM Kerala chief Kodiyeri Balakrishnan lambasts UDF for false campaign'

Thiruvananthapuram: CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said while the official responsible for sending the details meant for media before completion of budget speech in Assembly has been shifted out, the UDF is continuing with its false campaign about budget leak.

At a press conference here, Kodiyeri said there was no leak of tax proposals or any other crucial portions of budget. The note on budget highlights meant for distribution among media after the presentation in Assembly, was mailed early on.

He said the staff had shown over eagerness in mailing the details even while finance minister T. M. Thomas Isaac was making his budget speech in Assembly. There was a lapse on part of official and he was removed on Friday.

The CPM leader said budget leak had happened during the regime of UDF. There were allegations that the tax proposals had been revealed to interested parties ahead of budget presentation.

 Meanwhile finance minister T. M. Thomas Isaac said he would reply to the allegations regarding budget leak in Assembly.

He denied that budget had been leaked and said only the highlights meant for media were given out. “There was a lapse on the part of the staff member. It was not deliberate.”