Congress divided over K Babu issue

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Congress leaders have remained divided over their response to the Vigilance raids on former minister K. Babu. This was evident at the UDF meeting held at Cantonment House on Tuesday when KPCC president V. M. Sudheeran said that he will air his opinion after the first sitting of the Political Affairs Committee on September 24.  Except Mr Sudheeran, the Congress leaders have said that Mr Babu should be protected. The UDF leaders said that Mr Sudheeran's 'silence' showed that all was not well within the party. They urged the Congress leaders to solve their issues.

When Muslim League leader P. K. Kunhalikutty sought to know the KPCC stand on the Babu issue, former chief minister Oommen Chandy said the Vigilance probe was part of the political vendetta unleashed by the LDF government. Prominent ‘A’ group leader and KPCC vice-president M.M. Hassan said Mr Babu should be protected politically, but Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala wanted the probe to continue.

"The LDF government is using the Vigilance department to tarnish the UDF's image. We are not against an impartial probe," Mr P. P. Thankachan, UDF convener, told reporters. KPCC vice-president V. D. Satheeshan demanded that the Babu issue must be discussed in the party forum first and said the people are against corruption. The Muslim League will take a stand after the KPCC reveals its position.