INTUC president R Chandrasekharan on hunger strike
Mr Manoj alleged that the hunger strike was a publicity stunt to improve his image
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Mr Kadakampally Manoj, former Kollam secretary of INTUC, who had exposed INTUC president R. Chandrasekharan’s alleged graft, has called the boss’s protest before the secretariat “absurd”. Mr Chandrasekharan kicked off an indefinite hunger strike on Tuesday demanding the suspension of Additional Chief Secretary (finance) K. M. Abraham for probing the discrepancies at Kerala State Cashew Development Corporation.
Mr Manoj alleged that Mr Chandrasekharan was on the payrolls of Hindustan Newsprint Ltd as public relations assistant, drawing a salary of over Rs 25, 000. He was accepting honorarium of Rs 20, 000 and other allowances, including diesel allowance of Rs 25, 000.
Mr Chandrasekharan had criticized Mr. Abraham after he submitted a report regarding his involvement in the corruption at the corporation. A petition filed by Mr. Manoj, which is under consideration of the High Court, has demanded a CBI inquiry into the matter.
Mr Manoj alleged that the hunger strike was a publicity stunt to improve his image. “For the last 1.5 years, Provident Fund and ESI amounting to Rs 11 crore have not been provided. Also last year’s Onam festival bonus to 13, 000 cashew workers amounting to Rs 7, 500 is yet to be provided. When KSCDC is considered to be a model employer in the cashew sector, its chairman is immersed in corruption,” said Mr Manoj.
He has been waging a fight since 2008 against the nefarious activities happening at KSCDC. He also alleged that Mr Chandrasekharan’s brother-in-law K. A. Ratheesh, who is also its managing director, enabled him to indulge in more corruption.