Copter ride: Opp corners Kerala govt; Cong for vigilance probe

Thiruvananthapuram: Opposition Congress and BJP on Wednesday sharpened their attack on the CPI(M)-led Kerala government as an order for payment of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's helicopter ride from the state disaster relief fund kicked off a controversy.

The state government later cancelled the order.

The opposition has alleged misuse of the fund meant for Ochki cyclone relief.

The Congress demanded registration of a corruption case over the matter, while the BJP wanted the Centre to monitor utilisation of the Ockhi cyclone relief fund.

The payment to the tune of Rs 8 lakh was for hiring a private helicopter for flying Vijayan from Thrissur to state capital and back on December 26.

This was for a meeting with the visiting inter-ministerial central team, which had come to assess the damage caused by the cyclone which hit the southern coast of the state on November 29-30 last.