MM Mani denies charges by Sanalkumar's wife

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Power minister M M Mani has denied allegations of misbehaviour with Viji, wife of Sanalkumar, the victim of accident-altercation involving DSP (late) B Harikumar at

Neyyattinkara

.


Viji said that when she telephoned the minster on Wednesday seeking help, he told her that government cannot help her if she went ahead with the strike in front of the secretariat.

Viji has been on a

hunger strike

seeking solatium and a government job, for 10 days.

However, the minister said he had not misbehaved with or shouted at her. "I told her to meet chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Only the CM could find a solution to her demands,'' said Mani.

Viji said she had told the minister that she met the chief minister, who had assured all support. But, there was no response from the part of the government even one-and-a-half months after the incident.

Mani said government would not help if she didn't end the strike.

Meanwhile, opposition leader

Ramesh Chennithala

sought a public apology from the minister for insulting a widow. When the LDF government was claiming of upholding women's protection and security, this was how a minister behaves with a widow. Government should consider her request for solatium and government job since she had lost the only breadwinner of the family, said Ramesh.

Sanalkumar (32) of Kodungavila, an electrician, was hit by a vehicle when Harikumar pushed him to the road after an altercation between the duo over parking of vehicles at Kodingavila on November 5. Sanal died at the hospital.

However, Harikumar, who had fled the scene, was found hanging at his home on November 13.