Antony-backers behind ISRO conspiracy: Jacob

Congress veteran and former Meghalaya governor M M Jacob on Saturday said that “an intra-party force” backing A K Antony had worked behind the ISRO conspiracy which saw the exit of K Karunakaran as the chief minister.

The political conspiracy behind the ISRO came up for discussion after Karunakaran’s son and Congress legislator K

Muraleedharan recently doubted the role of late prime minister Narasimha Rao in the suspected conspiracy behind the spy case. He had also demanded action against the Kerala police officials who had initially probed the case.

While Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi supported Muraleedharan’s allegation about the conspiracy to trap Karunakaran, Union Minister of State for Home Mullappally Ramachandran said Antony’s name should not be dragged into the controversy. “I do not understand the purpose behind raising the issue,” he said.

Jacob said whenever Karunakaran was forced to quit as Kerala CM, Antony succeeded him. There was a force that worked behind projecting Antony and achieving their cause. The same force worked against Karunakaran in the ISRO case , he said.

“There had been a deliberate attempt to bring down Karunakaran as the chief minister. But I wouldn’t say it was orchestrated by Antony or Oommen Chandy. But Antony become the chief minister after Karunakaran’s resignation,” Jacob said. He said let the high command probe into the matter. “If a committee is constituted by the party, I would air my opinion.”