Money-for-job scam: UDF stalls Kerala assembly

Thiruvananthapuram: The Congress-led UDF stalled proceedings in the Kerala Assembly today over the money-for-job scam as the Speaker rejected their demand for an adjournment motion on the issue after Chief Minister V S

Achuthanandan said a thorough probe into the scandal was already on.

In a stormy start to the brief year-end session, the UDF members trooped into the well of the House during zero hour as Achuthanandan declined to concede the demand for Revenue Minister K P Rajendran's resignation and a judicial probe to unearth the entire gamut of the fraud.

The job scam has been rocking Kerala for the last fortnight after eight persons were found to have got jobs in Wayanad Collectorate producing forged documents including fake appointment letter from PSC, paying huge amounts to middlemen.

Several persons, including the kingpin of the racket, had already been arrested and the District Collector and two senior officials suspended for their laxity in detecting the fraud and taking prior action.

Raising the issue in the House, senior Congress legislator Thiruvanchur Radhakrishnan said this was the biggest job scandal that has ever happened in Kerala and the government could not run away by offering lame excuses.

He wanted Rajendran, a CPI nominee in the cabinet, to quit owning moral responsibility for what had happened in his department.

Supporting his colleague, Opposition leader Oommen Chandy slammed the government and said even the Public Service Commission's (PSC) credibility had been affected due to the government's "ineptitude".

Countering the UDF attack, Achuthanandan said quick and effective action had already been taken in the case and no one would be spared if proved guilty.

He said the opposition was on its usual practice of disrupting the business in the House by raising issues.

Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said the UDF was trying to create a smokescreen over the issue despite the government revealing in detail what all steps it had already taken.

After the Chief Minister and his colleagues spoke, Speaker K Radhakrishnan refused leave for the motion moved by Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan.

As the opposition members raised slogans, Speaker K Radhakrishnan signalled the treasury benches to rush through the urgent business and adjourned the House for the day.