KOTTAYAM: “I just ignore,” said Finance Minister KM Mani about Thomas Isaac’s ‘alternative white paper’ and of the allegations raised by the former Finance Minister in an open discussion held here two days back. Mani, addressing mediamen in Kottayam on Saturday said, if needed he would be ready for an open discussion with Isaac on the issue.He alleged that it is Isaac who is lying and in the very first chapter itself he has proved it.Isaac had alleged that the treasury was bankrupt in 1985-86 when Mani was the Finance Minister.“I have got proof to prove Isaac wrong,” said Mani who produced a letter, which he got from the Union Finance Ministry, that shows the treasury balance as Rs 168 crores.Isaac did not use the chances that came his way for a direct argument on the budget, alleged Mani.“On the day of Vote on Account discussion,during the zero hour,I presented the white paper. Isaac did not speak on that occassion. Next day in the Appropriate Bill discussion also he didn’t utter any word ,” said Mani. He also said that there was nothing unusual in the central funds allocated to the UDF Govt and said even the LDF Govt had received such gifts from the Centre.Mani claimed that his was a populist and developmental budget which made Isaac jealous. “He couldn’t prove wrong any of the facts in my Budget.I treat his debates as a comedy. I feel I should have been there for the debate,” said Mani.Mani also took the occasion to criticise Isaac’s previous Budget.“Isaac’s Budget was only a shower of promises just before the polls.It was a procession of mismanagement,” Mani ridiculed.
Comments
0 comment