CPM flay Congress for Centres stand in SC

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CPM has come out strongly against the ‘Italian connection’ of the Congress in the stand taken by the Central Government in the Supreme Court in the  MT Enrica Lexie shooting episode. In a scathing attack made in a press conference at the party headquarters, AKG Centre, here on Friday, party state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan has said, "It is to be doubted strongly that the Italian connection of the Congress forced the Central Government to take such a stand in the Supreme Court”.He said that the State and the Central Governments colluded with each other on this issue for saving the Italian Marines. “Instead of demanding at least Rs 10 crore compensation for the relatives of each of the deceased, the government was trying to weaken the case. Kerala police entered the ship only a week after the incident and by that time crucial evidence were destroyed,” he alleged.Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan was more critical when he said:”The integrity of the Congress president is under cloud as it looks like she was trying to help the Marines from her motherland than standing for the justice of the martyrs of this land”.VS had more allegations in store against the Congress leaders of the state including Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Union Minister K V  Thomas in the press conference held in his official residence. “K V Thomas’ meeting with the Italian officials in Rome has proved to be suspicious at this juncture.  The stand of the Central Government in favour of the Italian Marines is proving that Thomas did the backroom manoeuvres for Italy. There were attempts to sabotage the case from the beginning. This was evident from measuring the distance between the ship and the shore. The distance to the ship was measured from Neendakara while it had to be done from Alappuzha”.He asked the Chief Minister to resign as the state had failed to ensure a clarity on the issue and in conveying it to the Centre.