Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 30 (NationPress) With the opposition Congress-led UDF challenging Kerala Excise Minister M.B. Rajesh for granting a brewery license to a controversial company linked to the Delhi excise case, Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan on Thursday urged the Minister to clarify the involvement of BRS leader K. Kavitha, the daughter of former Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao.

In a press briefing, Satheesan expressed a desire to know why Kavitha visited Kerala and who she engaged with.

"I want to ask Rajesh to reveal the purpose of Kavitha’s stay in Kerala and the individuals she interacted with. Notably, Kavitha was incarcerated in connection with the contentious Delhi excise policy case," he stated, urging the media to investigate her accommodations during her time in Kerala.

The company at the center of the controversy, Oasis Commercial Private Ltd, whose executive was previously imprisoned in the Delhi excise policy case, has been granted permission to establish numerous facilities in the water-scarce district of Palakkad.

These facilities encompass an ethanol plant, a multi-feed distillation unit, an Indian-Made Foreign Liquor bottling unit, a brewery, a malt spirit plant, and a brandy/winery plant located at Kanjikode on a 26-acre site acquired two years ago.

Satheesan remarked that "unusual events transpired" when this company acquired land in Palakkad.

"After the land purchase was finalized, the Pinarayi Vijayan government modified their Excise Policy, and while other companies in this sector were unaware, Oasis was awarded a license to develop their facility on the land they bought," he mentioned.

Countering Rajesh’s assertion that the operational Oasis plant would yield a GST of Rs 210 crore for the state, Satheesan remarked it is regrettable that a Minister would say such a thing, considering there is no GST applicable for extra neutral alcohol.

"No one can forget what Rajesh has frequently stated regarding the severe water scarcity in Palakkad, and now he is advocating for the Oasis company. Equally concerning is the fact that this company has not provided any clarification amidst the ongoing issue," Satheesan added.

Veteran Congress leader and former Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala noted that this matter has become a focal point of discussion within the ruling Left alliance, as only Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Rajesh were aware of this "corrupt deal".

"I maintain my position that this constitutes a significant corrupt arrangement, and when Rajesh found himself in a precarious position, he suggested that this plant would not contribute to water shortages in the district because they will have their own rainwater harvesting system, which will not adequately satisfy their water needs," he asserted.

Meanwhile, allies of the ruling CPI-M, such as the CPI and the JD-S, have expressed their dissatisfaction regarding this issue not being raised in the Left Democratic Front (LDF) meeting, while another ally, the RJD, voiced opposition.

RJD leader Varghese George mentioned on Thursday that it is surprising this topic was omitted from the regular LDF meeting, especially considering LDF Convenor T.P. Ramakrishnan is a former Excise Minister.

Palakkad Lok Sabha member V.K. Sreekandan, who defeated Rajesh in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, stated that the entire arrangement is dubious and corrupt, warranting a judicial inquiry to uncover the truth.