After having the controversial deep sea fishing contract, EMCC Director Shiju Varghese is likely to contest the upcoming Assembly elections against Fisheries Minister Mercykutty Amma from Kundara.
According to reports, Shiju claimed that the minister had cheated him in the project and he is contesting the elections to convince the people. He even alleged that if the government had any deep-sea fishing policy, then they should have made it clear earlier. He even blames the minister and minister's office. Shiju allegedly said that legal action will be initiated against the minister in connection with the controversy.
Earlier, Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala had furnished documents of the four-acre land the government allegedly allotted to EMCC, the American company for the project. The opposition leader had also released the MoU signed between the Kerala government and EMCC, the American company. However, the government had denied that the deal had been signed by officers and they are not responsible for the same.
Following a row of controversies, the Kerala government had cancelled the Kerala State Inland Navigation Corporation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with EMCC India International allegedly concerning deep-sea fishing. The order comes from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, following widespread protests against the deal reportedly allowing deep-sea fishing in the state. The cancelled deal worth Rs 2,950 Crore was signed between KSINC MD N Prasanth and Shiju Varghese.
However, the company’s deal with the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation for allocation of land at the latter’s Mega Food Park still stands, which is suspect according to experts. Earlier, while speaking to a leading Malayalam channel, EMCC India President Shiju Varghese explained while they had communicated regarding the project and its protocol, they were never informed by any government officials that their plan did not agree with the Fisheries policy of the state.
