New liquor policy was a collective decision: K M Mani

Mani put up a strong defence after the Congress and its allies backed him after his own party colleague P C George triggered a debate that Mani should have to step down if damning evidence for bribery comes out.

Mani said what is going on at present is blackmail business. “When the Opposition encourages such wicked activity, it reflects their abysmal standard. The audio clips, which have come out as conversations indicating about the bribery, have been forged after the allegations were raised. There were discrepancies in the allegations. My political life as a legislator for last five decades is an open book.”

On another allegation that he had taken money from various business verticals to give them tax benefits in the budget, Mani said such decisions were taken after consulting with chief minister Oommen Chandy. “No individual has benefited from such decisions. Previous ministers too had held consultations with business groups before budget,” said Mani.

Referring to CPI (M) agitation that Mani would not be allowed to present the next budget, the minister said if the UDF government is in power, he would certainly present the budget.

On Tuesday, Kerala had observed a state-wide hartal, called by BJP, which demanded that Mani should quit.