Freebie row over Satheesan’s chartered flight heats up Kerala politics

…with candles as a consolation prize. Mr Satheesan on Wednesday said the government’s contract with a helicopter company for emergency travel had expired. Moreover, he had underscored that his air-dash to Malappuram “ did not burden the public exchequer. ” He claimed that Ministers in the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) dispensation had availed themselves of free air travel during exigencies, and he would do the same if circumstances warranted it, instead of using…

…He said the LDF would follow up DYFI’s political action by seeking legal recourse to spotlight “the conflict of interest, opaqueness, political impropriety and erosion of ethics” at the centre of the current scandal. “ The Prevention of Corruption Act clearly outlaws Ministers from dishonestly accepting an undue advantage when performing their public duty and is a punishable offence ”, Dr Isaac noted. DYFI national president A.A. Rahim said those holding high public office should be clear-eyed about why the moneyed elite offer inducements like free air travel and foreign jaunts to those in power.…

…Dr Isaac noted. DYFI national president A.A. Rahim said those holding high public office should be clear-eyed about why the moneyed elite offer inducements like free air travel and foreign jaunts to those in power. “ Acceptance of hospitality and service, including foreign jaunts, free air travel, and luxury vehicles, has become the hallmark of the UDF government. Such gifts inevitably compromise the fairness and judgement of Ministers and place them under an obligation to entities seeking to influence the government inappropriately. The DYFI will take to the streets and move the courts if the UDF government refuses to follow transparency requirements or dismantles legal guardrails against corruption”, Mr Rahim said. When contacted, former Kerala…