Kerala Govt, Congress Exchange Barbs Over NH-66 Collapse; Oppn Demands CBI Probe

A political row has erupted in Kerala over the National Highway-66 project, with the ruling CPI(M) and opposition Congress trading sharp accusations amid allegations of corruption and delays.

- Press Trust of India

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM/NEW DELHI:

A section of National Highway 66 at Kooriyad collapsed on May 20, triggering a political firestorm in the state.

On Thursday, Kerala public works minister PA Mohammed Riyas said the project would be completed "no matter what," even if Congress general secretary KC Venugopal "acts as the nemesis" of the highway plan, as the state government is taking all steps in that direction.

The Congress hit back at the minister by accusing him of turning the complainant into the accused and questioned whether he was trying to protect the culprits behind the huge corruption of thousands of crores in the award of contracts for the NH work carried out by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).