After Singhvi, Congress targets Tamil Nadu advocate general
By IANSTuesday, October 5, 2010
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The Congress in Kerala Tuesday objected to the Tamil Nadu advocate general appearing in the state high court against the Kerala government and on behalf of a lottery distributor, whom party spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi earlier defended.
Leader of Opposition Oommen Chandy said Tamil Nadu Advocate General P.S. Raman appearing in the Kerala High Court against the state of Kerala Monday was a breach of convention.
The party raised a howl of protests when Singhvi last week appeared in the kerala High Court defending Megha Distributors, accused of irregularities. Though Singhvi withdrew, party sources said he may now face disciplinary action.
“Raman quoted a government order that there was nothing wrong for him to appear here. But the convention is that he can appear for the state of Tamil Nadu in any case,” said Chandy.
After Singhvi withdrew, Raman appeared for Megha Distributors, a distributor for Bhutan Lottery, which has had a long running feud with the Kerala government over issues pertaining to taxes and the number of draws being held by the lottery.
“I am writing to Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan about the impropriety of Raman appearing in our state against the state. I will request him to look into all angles of this issue and then he should take it up with the chief minister of Tamil Nadu,” added Chandy.
Singhvi appeared for Megha Distributors, upsetting the party in Kerala, which has for long alleged an unholy alliance between the ruling CPI-M and lottery ticket distributors.
“Our complaint against Singhvi is being taken up in the most serious manner by our party national leadership and it was most improper for Singhvi to appear in this case when we have taken this as a major corruption issue against the Left government,” said Chandy.
