Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday justified higher education minister K. T. Jaleel allegedly gifting a plum job to his close relative saying it caused no loss to the exchequer.
He was replying to the notice for an adjournment motion moved by K Muraleedharan demanding his resignation over the appointment of K.T. Adeeb as general manager of Kerala State Minorities Development Finance Corporation (KSMDFC).
Mr Vijayan said that Mr Jaleel had violated neither the oath of office nor the law and rejected the demand as the issue is not of "urgent importance."
He said it required no cabinet approval for changing the eligibility criteria and that his cabinet certainly did not make any such decision.
Following the refusal of Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan to admit the notice for the motion, the opposition boycotted the assembly.
Though Ramesh Chennithala, the leader of the opposition, announced a walkout, the Assembly saw a heated exchange between the treasury and Opposition benches on nepotism charges, after IUML members walked to the well with a banner.
Following this, the opposition changed the strategy and left the house.
The minister also made a statement in the Assembly reiterating that he did not violate any law or indulged in corrupt practices. He vowed to resign and leave public service if the charges proved legally correct.
Mr Chennithala earlier alleged that chief minister had taken a contract to protect people associated with corruption.
Mr Muraleedharan alleged that all rules were violated for appointing Mr Adeeb, who quit last month. The minister relaxed the qualifications for his cousin. A note was issued by the department secretary stating that if any changes are made, then it should be brought to the notice of the cabinet. However, this was not done, said Mr Muraleedharan.
