Thiruvananthapuram: Finance Minister Thomas Isaac appeared before the Speaker and gave his explanation in the breach of privilege complaint filed in connection with the leakage of CAG report.
Thomas Isaac informed Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan that he is ready to appear before the Privileges and Ethics Committee.
The Opposition filed the breach of privilege notice alleging that the Finance Minister’s action of leaking the CAG report to the media was a violation of guidelines. The natural course of action in such complaints against ministers is to seek an explanation from the minister concerned. It is on this basis that the Speaker sought an explanation from the Finance Minister.
Thomas Isaac stood firm on his argument. Isaac said he thought it was a draft report and that he assumed that the CAG would seek his opinion ahead of preparing the final report on such an important matter. However, it was only later that he realised that the report was final.
Isaac also said that he is willing to accept any punishment stipulated by the Speaker. The minister added that he is ready to offer an explanation before the Privileges and Ethics Committee if the Speaker decided to send the letter to the committee.
