Thiruvanathapuram: Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala has demanded Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to apologise to the World Bank team leader Dr Bernard Aritua on behalf of PWD minister G. Sudhakaran. Mr Chennithala came down heavily on the minister for his racial slur on the official amid reports that the WB had rejected his public apology. In a statement here, the Congress leader said the racial comments against the official was unexpected from a minister and that it had brandished the state's image in low light at the international level.
“When Kerala is known for equality and acceptance of all cultures, here Mr Sudhakaran had come out with a racial comment which has been foolish. World Bank officials have taken the issue seriously as they have already shot off a complaint to Union finance minister Arun Jaitley by ethics committee vice-president, South Indian vice-president and HR vice-president,” said Mr Chennithala. However, top PWD officials are also peeved with the minister for defaming the department as a whole by his racial slur against a good and committed official.
They feel that the only solution before the LDF Government is nothing else, other than Mr Sudhakaran stepping down. “World Bank officials have not approved his open apology. In the apology letter, the minister should have just focused on seeking repentance on the racial comment instead of squeezing in the matter on irregularities in the Kerala State Transport Project. We understand that the government had taken it seriously,” said a top PWD official. M. V. Jayarajan, the private secretary to Mr Vijayan, said there were no issues as such between Mr Sudhakaran and World Bank officials.
