The History of Miss Betsy Thoughtless narrates the tale of a woman fighting the consequences of marrying the wrong guy.
It is not known if the Kerala Lokayukta has read the 1751 classic, but the anti-graft watchdog seems to be in a situation novelist Eliza Haywood had painted vividly: “Once bitten, twice shy.”
The Lokayukta stayed away from an iftar Opposition leader VD Satheesan hosted on Wednesday, 12 April. The apparent “boycott” came after the ombudsman came under fire for participating in Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s iftar.
A case against Vijayan and his former Cabinet colleagues, accusing them of misusing the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF), has been pending before the Lokayukta.
The visuals of the iftar attended by Lokayukta Justice Cyriac Joseph and Uplokayukta Justice Haroon-Ul-Rashsid went viral on social media.
It made the petitioner in the CMDRF misuse case, RS Sasi Kumar, say that he has lost faith in the Lokayukta.
The Lokayukta retorted, reportedly calling Kumar a “rabid dog”. The observation evoked sharp responses, with Satheesan and KPCC chief K Sudhakaran condemning the Lokayukta.
Satheesan’s iftar was attended by the chief minister, ministers, Speaker AN Shamseer, leaders of various political parties, senior police officers, and bureaucrats.
The leaders of both the ruling front and the opposition were engaged in friendly conversations.
After arriving at the Opposition leader’s iftar, Vijayan enquired if the videographer who had recorded the visuals of his party was also present. The chief minister’s comment left all in splits.
