Jayarajan defends appointment of kin

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former industries minister E P Jayarajan told the assembly on Monday that no ne of his actions as minister had violated any existing rules or precedents. He said his resignation was on moral grounds and was intended to quell the widespread attack by an unholy nexus of mafia, opposition and media at the government. “History will never forgive you,“ he told the opposition.
“None of you there can walk the path traversed by comrade Pinarayi Vijayan.You need to be reborn to do so,“ said Jayarajan trying to appease his political boss even while attempting to distance himself from the explanation given by Pinarayi Vijayan for his resignation.
CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, soon after Jayarajan's resignation, had told media that Jayarajan's request for resignation followed his confession before the party state secretariat on erring in appointing a close relative in a company under the portfolio he held.
Summing up the steps taken to cleanse the industries department during his stint in office, Jayarajan said he had received threats from within the count ry and abroad as he had decided to take on those with vested interests. Citing several corruption charges against Saji Basheer, former MD of Sidco, Jayarajan said during the tenure of the previous government people like Saji had influenced the affairs of the department. “The vigilance had recommended his removal, but, the then home minister mentioned in the file that there was no need to suspend him. The suspension was approved by law secretary and advocate general, but, the then minister went against it,“ Jayarajan said during his 28minute long speech in the assembly during zero hour.
He said one of the first things he did after taking over was to entrust the RIAB to select managing directors for 41 PSUs under his department. “There were 15 to 20 MDs who had to be replaced.Former MD of Kinfra continued even after turning 70,“ he said.
On the controversial appointment of his nephew P K Sudheer as managing director of Kerala State Industrial Enterprises (KSIE), Jayarajan said as per the articles of association of the company , one of the directors selected by the government can be appointed as the MD.
“The appointment order was issued on October1. When he sought more time to join, the order was cancelled as we didn't want any delay to affect the functioning of the corporation,“ said Jayarajan. The other appointment ­ that of his brother's daughter-in-law in Kerala clays and ceramics ­ was temporary (to a three months' leave vacancy). “The GM of the company went on leave, they recruited a substitute as per protocol.There was no need for them to consult me,“ he said.
UDF presents evidence, says CM was aware
Thiruvananthapuram: The opposition UDF on Monday challenged Pinarayi Vijayan by presenting documents claiming that the chief minister was aware of the appointments of relatives of CPM leaders to key positions in public sector units. V D Satheesan, while seeking leave to discuss the issue of nepotism in PSU appointments in the assembly, presented the copy of file notes by industries additional chief secretary Paul Antony, which suggested to forward the files concerning the appointments to the CM through the industries minister.
The CM, however, stood by his earlier position and said he was not aware of the appointment of P K Sudheer, nephew of former industries minister E P Jayarajan.
The three orders presented by Satheesan and opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala didn't include the government order appointing Sudheer, but, included the order to appoint Sooraj Raveendran, grandson of former CM late E K Nayanar, as Kinfra film and television park MD.
Vijayan said though there was a precedent to notify the CM about appointments to key posts, it was not mandatory.
Satheesan said: “The appointment was done after vigilance probe. Who is the vigilance minister? Shall we believe that the CM who is the single power centre in the government was ignorant of the developments in his government? Secondly, rules suggest all senior appointments should come before the cabinet.
If it didn't come before cabinet, who is responsible? Finally, rules of business also suggest to refer appointments of all heads of departments (here MD) to the CM.
“We don't have any objection regarding the vigilance probing appointments in the past five years,“ said Chennithala before announcing a walkout in protest against speaker's denial of leave for discussing the issue.