Verdict opens fresh debate in Congress unit

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Supreme Court verdict in ISRO spy case has led to fresh troubles in the state Congress unit, with both K Muraleedharan and Padmaja Venugopal saying their father and former chief minister K Karunakaran was wrongly targeted over the case.


None of the other leaders, except former KPCC president V M Sudheeran, chose to comment on the development. Sudheeran hoped that the judicial commission would

unearth

all angles in the case.

The ‘A’ group led by Oommen Chandy and M M Hassan could force the AICC leadership to remove Karunakaran from the chief minister’s post over the case.

Padmaja said she would appear before the commission and divulge the details of five leaders who conspired against Karunakaran. Muraleedharan, however, played safe by naming no one. He said it was Karunakaran alone who was denied justice in the case and termed former PM PV Narasimha Rao as the main conspirator against him.

Former chief minister Oommen Chandy, who first sought the resignation of Karunakaran over the case, said Padmaja herself should name those who conspired against Karunakaran.

Congress group war back on the burner

The Congress leadership in the state, barring former KPCC president V M Sudheeran, maintained a studied silence on the Supreme Court verdict that called Nambi Narayanan’s arrest wrongful.


Even though he was not specific about the conspiracy angle in the case, which led to ouster of late K Karunakaran as chief minister, Sudheeran said he hoped that the judicial committee will unearth all the angles involved in the case.

The ‘A’ group led by Oommen Chandy had successfully lobbied to remove Karunakaran from the post of chief minister for protecting IG Raman Srivastava, who allegedly used his official position to provide safe passage to the Maldivian women.

Chandy had the backing of leaders like M M Hassan, Ramesh Chennithala, M I Shanavaz and late G Karthikeyan. They got the support of then Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao who considered Karunakaran as a threat for him at the national level.

K Muraleedharan and Padmaja Venugopal, son and daughter of K Karunakaran, opened a debate within the Congress after the verdict by stating that the judicial committee will bring out the conspiracy behind the case. Padmaja Venugopal, who alleged a larger political conspiracy, said she is ready to appear before the judicial committee and name the five Congress leaders who conspired to oust her father.

“Everyone got justice in the case, it is only Karunakaran who was denied it,’’ said K Muraleedharan. He also charged former Prime Minister Narasimha Rao for ousting his father from the chief ministership.Chandy, who refused to comment said it is up to Padmaja to reveal the names of five leaders who were behind Karunakaran’s ouster and are now active in politics. “I don’t know about this,’’ he said.