Thiruvananthapuram: CPM state secretary M V Govindan on Friday accused chief minister V D Satheesan of adopting a policy of “double standards” on issues ranging from the PM SHRI scheme and mineral sand mining to the state’s liquor policy.Govindan told reporters in New Delhi that the CM’s reply to a submission made by the Kuttanad MLA in the assembly exposed what he described as the govt’s contradictory positions.Govindan said the LDF had taken a firm stand against implementing PM SHRI when it was in power. Then, some leaders even declared that the scheme should be “thrown into the Arabian Sea or the dustbin.” He alleged that after assuming office as chief minister, Satheesan announced that the scheme would be implemented without hesitation. “This is nothing but double standards,” Govindan said.He also cited the govt’s response to a request by a UDF MLA from Kuttanad seeking a local holiday for snake boat races. The CM initially said the matter would be examined and a decision communicated later but subsequently stated that such a holiday would not be granted under any circumstances, Govindan said.Drawing parallels with the issue of mineral sand mining, the CPM state secretary alleged that the govt privately spoke of privatisation while publicly maintaining in the assembly that there would be no privatisation.Govindan also criticised the govt’s liquor policy, saying the decision to provide tax concessions for low-alcohol beverages was announced in the budget and later left to the UDF for discussion. He claimed the tax relief would result in a revenue loss of around Rs 600 crore to the state exchequer.He pointed out that senior Congress functionaries, including V M Sudheeran and K C Venugopal, had openly criticised the policy. Govindan said liquor companies had sought tax concessions during the previous LDF govt but the file remained pending for more than three years without a decision.LDF, he said, had instead considered producing low-alcohol beverages within Kerala in a manner that would also benefit farmers. Referring to a letter discussed in the media, Govindan said it merely sought a clear definition of low-alcohol beverages and questioned attempts to portray the query as support for tax reductions.He alleged that a file which remained pending for three years and five months under the LDF govt reached Satheesan within two days of his assuming office, following which the budget announced substantial tax concessions for low-alcohol beverages within 24 days.Claiming that the tax concession effectively reduced the rate to 120% and would cost the state nearly Rs 600 crore in revenue, Govindan questioned the basis on which the proposal was included in the budget without prior discussions within the UDF or the Congress top brass.“There are clear vested interests behind this decision,” Govindan alleged, accusing the Congress of spreading misinformation by attempting to portray the previous LDF govt as responsible for the controversy.
