Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Pradesh
Congress Committee has demanded the Centre to order a CBI
probe into alleged irregularities in the operations of Bhutan
lotteries in the state.
In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, state
Congress chief Ramesh Chennithala and Leader of Opposition in
Assembly Oommen Chandy also pointed out Chief Minister V S
Achuthanandan`s request in this regard.
Congress in the state is in favour of a probe into the
operation of Bhutan lotteries during the period of both UDF
and LDF rules, Chennithala told reporters here Friday.
Chennithala alleged that Achuthanandan and State Finance
Minister T M Thomas Issac were on a "cold war" over the
lottery issue. "While Achuthanandan is in favour of a CBI
probe into the issue, Issac is against such an investigation."
He also demanded the resignation of Issac owning
responsibility to the corruption. If he did not resign, the
Chief Minister should drop him from the cabinet, the Congress
leader said.
Though, there were enough ground to take action against
Santiago Martin, the lottery operator, the government was not
taking any steps to arrest him, he claimed.
"People in the state like to know why no case has been
registered against Santiago Martin to bring him before law,"
Chennithala said.
PTI
