Irked MP M K Raghavan threatens to sue Kozhikode collector N Prashanth

Kozhikode: Mr M.K. Raghavan, Kozhikode MP, has threatened to move legally against district collector N. Prashanth for insulting him. His ire was against the accusation made by the collector on Wednesday that the MP had threatened officials during a review meeting over the disbursal of funds.

“I did not threaten any official during the review meeting which was called by the ADM. The collector was not present in the meeting. I had only raised my concern over the holding back of 35 projects which come under MPLADS scheme in the name of re-inspection,” he said. The district collector Mr. Prasanth had said that an MP cannot ask for avoiding scrutiny and inspection of works and that Mr Raghavan need not worry about the income of contractors.

“I had the record of completing cent per cent of the MPLADS during 2009-14. But now, only 55 per cent had been done due to the holding back of the projects by the district administration in the name of re-inspection. Re-inspection is fine but it should be expedited. The same collector had given nod to all projects till March,” he pointed out.

Mr Raghavan said that his firm stand for the realisation of Mananchira-Vellimadukunnu road widening might have irked the collector. “He did not have the courtesy to reply to my letter pointing to the inordinate delay in passing the projects on June 15. Mr Prashanth has that thick skin to spread lies against an elected representative,” the MP said.

Besides, the collector had shut down the MP facilitation centre in the collectorate for 40 days. Taking a dig at the collector, he said that he has no commitment to Facebook or Whatsapp but to the people to complete the projects in a time- bound manner.