Kerala: Ex-Congress leader apologises for toppling Karunakaran govt in spy case

On his Facebook page, Philip, now a Left fellow traveler, commented, “Even after 20 years, I am still haunted by guilt. Hence, I am coming out to tender apology on his fifth death anniversary.’’

Philip said during 1994-95, Karunakaran was tarnished in public by depicting him as a spy and an anti-national. Those Congress leaders who had submitted a chargesheet against Karunakaran with the party high command and demanded his resignation in public meetings across the state, should now feel regret about their action, he added.

“The horse trading behind depriving majority for Karunakaran in the Congress legislative party was unethical and wicked,” he said.

Philip said he had confessed to Karunakaran in 1998 about his role in the conspiracy to unseat him.

“As a penance, I had tried my best to ensure his success in the LS elections from Thiruvananthapuram in 1998,” he said.

Philip had been a close aide of Antony, who had led the battle against Karunakaran in the wake of ISRO spy case in 1994. Current Chief Minister Oommen Chandy was then a prominent member of the group led by Antony. Chandy too was part of the bid to unseat Karunakaran.