CAG sabotaging Kerala development: Minister

KOCHI: Kerala’s Minister for Finance Dr Thomas Isaac, who is in the dock over releasing an audit report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) before tabling it in the legislative Assembly, has once again lambasted the constitutional body for aiding efforts to destabilise developmental initiatives of the state government.

“The CAG report created an unprecedented situation in Kerala. I view this to be part of a shady plan. The CAG’S actions aided the efforts of ED ( Enforcement Directorate) and NIA (National Investigation Agency) to sabotage development activities in Kerala”, the minister said in Trivandrum on Wednesday.

Dr Isaac also hailed the decision of Assembly

Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan to forward the breach of privilege notice moved by the Opposition against the finance minister to the Privileges and Ethics Commitee of the Legislative Assembly.

The minister stuck to his earlier stand that norms were not violated and that there were serious maters regarding breach of privileges. “Will get a chance to explain them in the Assembly,” Dr Isaac said.

The Ethics Commitee will scrutinise the alleged procedural lapses in divulging CAG report.

Sreeramakrishnan said he had forwarded the notice along with the reply filed by the minister for the consideration of the Privileges and Ethics Commitee of the state Assembly.

“Privilege and ethics commitee of the Assembly will take further decision. We have handed over the breach of privilege notice and the Minister’s reply to the notice to the commitee,” Sreeramakrishnan told the media persons in Trivandrum.

The Speaker said there are certain important issues mentioned in the complaint of the opposition MLA and other serious maters pointed out by the minister in his reply and both need to be addressed by the commitee.

“Since the formation of the state, this is probably the first time, such an issue has come up. The minister has pointed out that this was not just a mater of breach of privilege of the Assembly but there are certain unprecedented situations with regard to the CAG report. So let the commitee take a decision in a democratic manner ater hearing both the sides,” the Speaker said.

The CAG in 2007, had issued directives as to how a CAG audit must be held. It explains the rights of those being audited. Explanation must be sought regarding each mater and it must be clarified as to why the explanation was dismissed.

If there is any major difference in opinion, it must be mentioned in the report. Exit meetings must be held. However, none of these were followed. Not even the minutes of the exit meeting was sent to me, Isaac alleged.