Kollam: Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala on Sunday expressed grief over Finance Minister Thomas Isaac personally attacking him 'when Mr. Isaac could not respond to the serious setbacks in salary disbursal that I pointed out.' He added that the finance ministers of other states had taken necessary steps to tackle the crisis even as Mr. Isaac did nothing to avail enough money for distribution.
“It was only by 3 pm on the day before salary disbursal that Mr. Isaac called for a meeting, including reserve bank representatives, to discuss on availing enough currencies to distribute pension and salaries. By this time, the other states could procure enough currency,” Mr. Chennithala blamed.
“Mr. Isaac termed me ‘irrelevant’ when I tried to point out State's failure in dealing with the crisis. It's Mr. Isaac who's irrelevant and that's why Gita Gopinath was apponted CM's finance advisor," he added. Mr. Chennithala also challenged the Finance Minister to release the minutes of the meeting he held with RBI officials on November 30 where it was agreed to provide the State with currencies worth Rs 1000 crore.
