Letter row: MV Govindan refuses to respond to allegations against son

T'puram/Kochi: CPM state secretary M V Govindan refused to respond to the allegations made by Chennai-based Malayali businessman Mohammed Sharshad against his son, Shyamjith. "I'm not ready to react to such absurdities," Govindan told reporters in New Delhi on Monday. He was in the capital to attend CPM's politburo meeting.A day earlier, CPM state unit was dragged into controversy after Sharshad alleged that Govindan's son may have leaked a private complaint he had sent to the CPM politburo. The letter, addressed to general secretary M A Baby, contained allegations against UK-based businessman Rajesh Krishna, who is associated with the party.Education minister V Sivankutty played down the row, saying such uproars were common ahead of elections and held little significance. These are attempts to target CPM in the run-up to the polls, he said.Meanwhile, former Union minister V Muraleedharan criticized Govindan for dismissing the charges. "Will he say there is no such letter? He can't call it absurd and walk away. These are serious allegations involving international financial dealings," he said. He also urged CM Pinarayi Vijayan to order a probe into these allegations if the party had nothing to hide. People deserve to know the truth about allegations against MLAs and ministers. By shielding his son, Govindan is also benefiting. He can't assume the issue will go away if ignored, he added.LSG Minister M B Rajesh said he was not interested in stirring up controversy. "This letter has been circulating on social media for three or four years," he told reporters on Monday."As elections near, old letters dumped in the trash resurface. During the last assembly polls, there were allegations about my wife's job appointment. That issue ended after the election. I was also accused of helping the accused in the Walayar case. But when the truth came out, no one reported it," Rajesh said.

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