Kerala Congress leader PC George hits out at KM Mani

KOCHI: Kerala Congress (M) leader PC George has kept alive the debate about his party chairman and the state Finance Minister KM Mani's resignation. PC George said on Sunday that if KM Mani had resigned immediately after the bar hotel association working president Biju Ramesh alleged that the finance minister had taken bribe from bar owners; he could have come back to the ministry by now.

Speaking to reporters he said that the issue of resignation was raised not as a solution to the entire problem. “There were several opportunities to quit and prove his innocence and come back“, George said. He added that the bar-bribe controversy has affected the party adversely.

He has been demanding that the party should discuss the bar-bribe controversy and that the party's inquiry report on the charges against Mani in the bar-bribe case should be published.However, KM Mani had rejected both his demands.

Responding to PC George's comments, KM Mani said it was his party that told him not to resign. He said George's comments were his personal views. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy also said that there was no need for Mani to resign.