Congress MLA K. Muraleedharan has said that if there was a political conspiracy involved in the Isro espionage case, the then Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao must have had a role in it.
Mr Muraleedharan said he would write to chief minister Oommen Chandy seeking action against police officials who were found guilty of wrongdoing in the spy case. He said this at a public function organised by the Society Protection Council at Press Club, where scientist S. Nambi Narayanan, who was recently acquitted of espionage charge, too participated.
Mr Muraleedharan demanded that action be taken against investigating officers Sibi Malayil, K.K. Joshua and S. Vijayan. If the CM failed to take action, he would take up the matter with the Congress high command, as it was also a case that targeted K. Karunakaran, his father, he said.
Mr Muraleedharan said Mr Rao, who once said he was unaware of what the Isro case was all about, changed his stand a week later and demanded that Karunakaran, who was state chief minister then, should quit. Mr Murali also quoted his father as telling him that Rao was one who could not be trusted.
***
‘Jairam words attack on hindu culture’
age Correspondent
Visakhapatnam, Oct. 7
Despite coming under attack from the BJP and Hindutva groups, Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh reiterated his remarks on toilets and temples and went a step further.
Answering a query on his remarks at Paderu, near Visakhapatnam, on Sunday, Mr Ramesh said, “Toilets are important for any person after getting up early in the morning.”
Reacting to the minister’s remarks, the seer of the Saradapeetam, that is based in the port city, Swamy Swaroopanandendra of Pendurthy, said, “After indulging in corruption, Congress leaders have now unleashed attack on Hindu culture, which has to be condemned by everyone.” He also pressed for an apology from the minister for hurting the sentiments of the people.