VS Achuthanandan breaks silence, lashes out at MK Damodaran

Thiruvananthapuram: Veteran CPM leader V S Achuthanandan said M K Damodaran’s allegation that there was a conspiracy to oust him from the post of legal advisor to the chief minister, would be rejected by people with the contempt it deserves.

Reacting to questions from the reporters on Damodaran hinting at a conspiracy to oust him especially the adverse verdict in ice cream parlour case, Achuthanandnan said there was no point blaming him for the developments that had taken place. BJP state president Kummanam Rajendran had filed a petition against him in the High Court following which he moved out, he said.

This is the first time that Achuthanandan has publicly criticised Damodaran since the controversy over the legal advisor appeared for lottery baron Santiago Martin.

Though the veteran leader was not happy with the way legal advisor was going about appearing for controversial people and also fighting cases against the state government, he had steered clear of a controversy by remaining silent on the issue.  

Despite being proved by media on Santiago Martin issue, he didn’t say a word against the legal advisor but only reminded that he had fought a relentless legal battle to pack off the lottery baron lock, stock and barrel.

Now with Damodaran indirectly holding the veteran leader responsible for the turn of events, Achuthanandna broke the silence. What provoked him was the statement of the senior advocate that a section of people started targeting him after the adverse verdict in ice cream parlour case.

It may be recalled that following the apex court verdict, Achuthanandan had termed unfortunate the stand taken by the standing counsel on the ice cream parlour case.  The veteran pointed out that he had approached the Supreme Court to seek justice for the poor girls and refuted the charge that his stand was prompted by political intentions.