HC decision in lottery case unfortunate: Achuthanandan
PTI | 11:10 PM,Oct 14,2010Kollam, Oct 14 (PTI) Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan today termed as "unfortunate" the High Court verdict directing the state government to collect advance tax from Megha distributors. "The High Court verdict is very unfortunate," he said while answering a query at a meet-the-press programme here. The state had submitted before the Court that there was no documentary evidence to prove that Megha distributors was the authorised agent of Bhutan lotteries, he said. Achuthanandan alleged that it was the policies of the Congress-led UPA government which promoted the "lottery mafia" in the state. Megha distributors got registration during the tenure of the previous UDF government, he said. The Congress' link with the lottery mafia was exposed when former party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi appeared for Megha distributors in the lottery case, he said.The government would take steps to run the state lotteries without any shortcomings to help the thousands of sellers and agents in the sector, the chief minister said. Replying to a question on CPI(M)-backed independent MLA Manhalamkuzhi Ali resigning from the Assembly following differences with the party leadership, he said that Ali's decision to join the "regressive forces" was unfortunate. Stating that Ali had made contributions to the Leftist people's movements and welfare of non-resident Keralites, Achuthanandan said his present stand would only indirectly help the Congress-led UDF."I hope Ali will re-examine his decision and correct the mistake." Describing the opposition UDF as a "divided camp", he said that the ruling LDF would register a clear victory in the civic polls this month. "The UDF will disintegrate once the results of the polls are out," he said.
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