Thiruvananthapuram: A day after his resignation as Finance Minister, Kerala Congress (M) chairman K.M. Mani lashed out at his detractors and said that he was denied justice though he was satisfied with his tenure in the ministry.
He did not hide his bitterness that Excise Minister K. Babu was given better treatment in the bar bribery case and said “there was no need to register an FIR against me.” Mr Mani told reporters here that some quarters had been hounding him for long.
“The allegations of bar bribery came at a critical juncture of my career. It was part of a political conspiracy. Those who were envious of the growth of the Kerala Congress were behind the allegations. They are continuing to hunt me down,” he said.
“Those who were thirsty for my blood should make a self-evaluation since I have been booted out. However, I am confident of overcoming the situation,” Mr Mani said.
He did not want to name anyone who conspired against him. “The mediapersons are free to conduct an investigation into it,” he said.
He said he knew who were behind the allegation, but refused to name them. Referring to the debacle in the local body elections, he said there were efforts to blame him for it.
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But the Kerala Congress stronghold had stood with the UDF, Mr Mani said. “In the first place there was no need to register an FIR against me. When the same allegation was raised against Excise Minister K. Babu, no FIR was registered. But I have no complaints that Babu got the justice that I was denied. I will not demand the resignation of anyone in connection with the bar bribe case,” he said.
Mr Mani denied that he had sought the resignation of Water Resources Minister P.J. Joseph or Chief Whip Thomas Unniyadan. “Mr Unniyadan resigned due to his regards for me,” he said.
“I had offered to resign when the allegations were first made. It was Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and UDF party leaders who asked me not to resign. Even now, there is nothing in the High Court observation that calls for my resignation either legally or morally. However, I resigned due to my high regards for the judiciary,” Mr Mani said.
He denied any differences in the Kerala Congress over his resignation. The party would continue to remain in the UDF, Mr Mani said.
He declared his intention to contest from Pala if the people of Pala and the state wanted. “However, I will be happy to stay away from contest and from the government,” Mr Mani said.
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