Thomas Chandy, P V Anvar invite opposition ire

Thiruvananthapuram: The Opposition on Thursday demanded a probe into the allegations regarding Transport Minister Thomas Chandy's resort at Alappuzha as well as the CPM-backed independent MLA P.V. Anvar's water theme park near Nilambur, even as Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan backed the two  in the Assembly.  While Mr. Chandy said he would quit public life if the Opposition could prove that he had illegally occupied even one cent of land,  Mr Anvar offered to shut the water theme park if  Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala could prove any violations. The House witnessed noisy scenes and the Opposition staged a walkout after Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan denied permission for an adjournment motion on the issue.

Mr Pinarayi Vijayan backed Mr Chandy and Mr Anvar after they denied the allegations. Mr Vijayan also said that the allegations were politically motivated. "In both the cases, there was no misuse of official powers. The roads adjacent to Chandy's resort at Alappuza were constructed using MP's funds and the fisheries department's funds over the last many years by following the norms. The temporary fencing using floating buoys on the lake adjacent to the resort was set up after obtaining mandatory permission to prevent weeds. The water theme park of  Mr Anvar had also obtained all mandatory licences and clearances," the chief minister said.

Mr. Chandy said that the resort was set up using his hard-earned money after working in the Gulf for about 40 years and that he had not indulged in any illegal activities so far. "I set up the resort with an investment of Rs. 150 crore 13 years back to promote tourism. But  the project is yet to become profitable and it has  invited baseless allegations. Anyway I am providing employment to 240 persons at the resort and many local residents who had no road approach to their houses had benefited from my speed boats for rushing heart patients and pregnant women to hospitals. The road was constructed as per the request of the local people to MPs.  My resort happened to be on the way," he said.

In a veiled attack on the media for the reports against his resort, Mr. Chandy said that some reporters recently had a tiff with his resort staff for denying them a room and 'some drinks' during a conference of South Indian transport ministers. Defending the allegations against him,  Mr Anvar alleged  the hand of a former minister from Nilambur behind the allegation. "One Murukesan who is giving baseless complaints against me has  a nexus with the Congress leader for many years," he  said.

Mr Chandy and Mr Anvar also invited the Opposition MLAs to visit the resort and water theme park to find out the factsMr Ramesh Chennithala demanded that either a government-level probe or a probe by an Assembly panel should be ordered. Earlier, the speaker cited objection in the adjournment notice given by  Mr V.T. Balram, Congress,  citing that multiple issues were being mentioned in it. But considering the Opposition's strong demand, he allowed Mr Balram to present the notice.

While a reference made by Mr Balram on the allegations pertained to NCP leader Uzhavoor Vijayan's death was criticised by the chief minister citing that it was out of context, the Opposition trooped to the well of the House while Mr Anvar raised allegations against a former minister from Nilambur. The speaker promised to examine both instances and expunge the remarks from the Assembly records if unwanted. The CM flayed the Opposition MLAs for trooping to the well and shouting against the speaker on several occasions.