Kerala minister draws ire for calling IAS officer 'mad'

Thiruvananthapuram, April 23 (IANS) Kerala Power Minister M.M. Mani has drawn ire for calling an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer "mad", authorities said on Sunday.

Mani made the remark late on Saturday against junior IAS officer Sreeram Venkitaraman because of his strong position on restoring the usurped land in the minister's home district of Idukki.

"In Idukki, most of the religious establishments are located on lands that do not have a clear title deed. He (Venkitaraman) is a mad man and he should be sent to Oolampara (mental hospital in Thiruvananthapuram)," the minister said.

Idukki, especially the picturesque hill station of Munnar, has been in the news for the past one week after Venkitaraman took to recovering usurped lands.

Former state Congress President A.V.M. Sudheeran slammed Mani's remarks against the young administrative officer.

"Mani's statement against the young IAS officer leaves literate Kerala in shambles and he has now become a liability and shame for the state," said Sudheeran on Sunday.

Communist Party of India (CPI) Assistant Secretary Prakash Babu said that all what he can say about Mani is what Jesus Christ said: "Forgive them, for they know not what they are doing". 

Babu added that he wished people who occupy important offices do not spoil their sanctity.

He went on to add that revenue officials like Venkitaraman only did what was expected of them and used the statutory powers vested with them.

Meanwhile, state Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan refused to comment on the situation.

State Youth Congress President Dean Kuriakose said Mani should be put in chains for his acts.

With the Kerala assembly scheduled to have its new session beginning this week, the Congress-led opposition is all set to unleash a strong attack against Chief Minister Pinnarai Vijayan's government for its acts against honest officials.