Congress leader and former Union Minister A K Antony today said he respected the Vigilance Special Court order directing further probe into the bar bribery scam against Kerala Finance Minister K M Mani.
Addressing mediapersons at the meet-the-press programme here, Antony said, "I respect the court verdict (that there should be further investigation in the case). Let further investigation be done," he said.
A Special Vigilance Court in Thiruvananthapuram had yesterday ordered further probe into the bar bribery case against Mani, rejecting the investigating agency's final report seeking closure of the case.
On queries whether Mani should resign in the context of the court verdict, he said, "We will take a decision. Congress will take an appropriate decision in consultation with the other UDF partners."
The Congress leader demanded strong action by the Centre against the forces dividing the country on religious, caste and linguistic basis.
We should strengthen the hands of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in their fight against the communal forces, he said.
"Kerala is the land of secular politics. BJP should not only be defeated in the coming civic polls, but not be allowed to open its account in the state," he said.
Antony said while Congress, RJD and JD(U) were fighting against BJP in the Bihar assembly polls, Left parties are weakening the fight by forming a separate front.
In Kerala, it is evident from the Kannur incident (where persons involved in murder cases have been fielded by the LDF in the local body elections), CPI(M) is following the politics of violence. In this election, CPI(M)'s "violent" activities should be put to an end, he said.
