Suresh Gopi Says Past Governments Share Blame for Keralam Power Crisis

Union Minister Suresh Gopi has said that the ongoing power crisis in Keralam cannot be laid solely at the door of the present United Democratic Front (UDF) government, noting that earlier administrations also bore responsibility for the situation.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Union government's Rozgar Mela in Kochi on Saturday, he said the question that needed asking was how the crisis had arisen in the first place, and that previous governments were equally answerable for it.

He added that the time had not yet come to assess the UDF government's performance, and urged that a judgement be deferred.

Mr. Gopi also pushed back against suggestions of an understanding between the UDF government and the Bharatiya Janata Party. Recalling his earlier efforts to bring tourism projects to the State, he said he had not received support from the previous Left front government, but that the position had since changed and the obstacles had been cleared once the matter was brought to the Chief Minister's notice. Such a shift, he said, should not be read as a deal, and those making the allegation were doing so out of vested political interest.

On the corruption allegations in the CMRL-Exalogic pay-off case, the Union Minister said the courts were the appropriate forum to decide such matters.