N.S.SAJITH
‘Axis of evil’ is a term used by the former United States President George W. Bush to refer Iran, Iraq and North Korea. Bush accused these governments for helping terrorism and seeking weapons of Mass Destruction. Everyone in this globe knew the aftermath of the frequent usage of the term axis of evil. Imperialists simply manufactured a global consent for attacking Iraq.
‘Axis of evil’ is a term used by the former United States President George W. Bush to refer Iran, Iraq and North Korea. Bush accused these governments for helping terrorism and seeking weapons of Mass Destruction. Everyone in this globe knew the aftermath of the frequent usage of the term axis of evil. Imperialists simply manufactured a global consent for attacking Iraq.
The same term is revisited into the minds of Keralites for a different cause. In an international level the term used by George Bush Junior, but in Kerala this term is now used to refer Chief Minister Oommen Chandy’s clandestine hobnob with Axis Bank, one of the New Generation Banks. Oommen Chandy’s concern to show the nepotism his kith and kin is notorious. The news hit the headlines last day as the opposition Left Democratic Front alleged nepotism in connection with Rs. 3000 crore Kochi Metro Rail Project and in the appointment of State Cooperative Exams Board. Kochi Metro has started an account in the Kollam Branch of Axis Bank, where Chief Minister’s close relative Sachu working as Assistant Manager. The road distance between Kochi and Kollam is comes around 200 kilometers.
Oommen Chandy, who is already facing allegations in the palmolein scam and 256 crore scam regarding pollution control project in Travancore Titanium Products Limited, is trying hard to defend himself. Staging a frontal attack on Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Former Finance Minister Dr. T M Thomas Isaac put the issue in the Assembly on Wednesday. He said there was gross misuse of power by Chief Minister in the opening of an account of the Kochi Metro Rail project in Axis Bank’s Kollam Branch. He said the account was opened in the Kollam branch to help Chief Minister’s close relative.
“One should understand the rationale of the starting Kochi Metro’s Account in a bank in Kochi or in Thiruvananthapuram, as the capital city. The logic behind opening account in Kollam branch is unjustifiable. This is a secret move to help the new generation bank. Presently there is Rs. 2 Crore in the current account at the Axis Bank’s Kollam Branch but the understandi with bank was that this could grow up to hundreds of crores of rupees, he said.
Reacting to this controversy, Sachu said that the account opened after a meeting with Tom Jose Managing Director of Kohi Metro Tom Jose.
The congress’ defense to this controversy was very feeble. Revenue Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, argued that LDF government had deposited the funds of National Rural Health Mission in ICICI Bank. But the replied that the deposit was made as per the Central government’s condition.
The appointment of Kunju Illampalli, a relative of Chandy as Chairman of the Co operative Exams Board is also became a controversy. INTUC leader Kunju Illampalli is also an accused in a criminal case. The case was regarding the attack on the KSRTC workers in Kottayam.
