Graft allegations: CM Pinarayi defends Thomas Chandy, PV Anwar

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday strongly defended state transport minister Thomas Chandy and Nilambur MLA PV Anwar on alleged encroachments made by the two politicians.

Pinarayi defended Chandy against accusations of wrongdoing related to a plush Lake Palace Resort he owns in Alappuzha, and also backed Anwar against allegations of large scale violations in a water theme park owned by him in Kozhikode.

Asianet News had exclusively reported the corruption allegations against both Chandy and Anwar. The water park owned by Anwar has been functioning without necessary permissions from the panchayat and the pollution control board. The forest department has also initiated probe over a complaint that a check dam has been built illegally for the park. Meanwhile, as many as 32 files related to the construction of Lake Palace Resort owned by Chandy have allegedly gone missing from the Alappuzha municipal office.

Pinarayi was responding to a notice in the state Assembly given for an adjournment motion moved by Congress legislator VT Balram.

"There has been no violation of any kind in the Lake Palace Resort owned by Thomas Chandy in Alappuzha, and with regard to the water theme park owned by PV Anwar that was opened recently. These allegations have been raised because the opposition is suffering from lack of other issues to be raked up, as the state government is doing a clean job. This government will show no mercy to any one who breaks the rule of the land, irrespective of who they are and what they are and this has been seen by people here," IANS quoted the CM as saying.

Chandy, an NCP leader, challenged the opposition that if they are able to prove that he has usurped even one cent of land, he will quit his political career.

"I toiled hard in the Middle East for 40 years and with that money I opened this resort 13 years back. I have invested about Rs 150 crore and I employ 240 people. Till this day I have not made any profit and I am incurring a loss of Rs 50 lakh every year. I also took the initiative to build a road, which is beneficial for the local populace, whose only means of transport to the main land hitherto was via water. I invite a delegation of the opposition to come to my resort to see for themselves, that I am speaking only the truth," Chandy pointed out.

Anwar said he began his political career in the Congress and later moved away from the party, causing enmity against him.

"Ever since I won from the Nilambur constituency in 2016, Aryadan Mohammed, the towering Congress leader and a former minister and his son have been against me and are coming out with various baseless allegations. The place where the water theme park is located is ruled by the Congress-led local body, which has given the license. No violations have taken place and I am being targeted by Aryadan's family. Earlier, about 400 families had left the place after the failure of arecanut farming. Maximum number of pig and chicken farms are located there as the land price is very cheap, as people have deserted the area. Now this park provides direct and indirect employment to the local populace," said Anwar.

Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, however, said that after coming to power the Pinarayi government has forgotten the hopes and aspirations of the weaker sections of society and is riding with the cash-rich.

"Our demand is straight - that the need of the hour is a proper probe by an agency, and once that is done the truth will surface. The Chief Minister says one thing and does the opposite. He is turning a blind eye to the various points that have surfaced against the resort and the water theme park, and is fully supporting them and not the truth," said Chennithala as the opposition, walked out of the house, protesting that their demand for taking up the motion was rejected by the Speaker.

(With agency inputs)

• Pinarayi Vijayan
• Thomas Chandy
• PV Anwar
• encroachment
• Ramesh Chennithala