1 hr ago
Kerala Minister KM Shaji Faces Row Over Borrowed Luxury SUV
Kerala Minister K M Shaji has been using a friend’s Range Rover for some official trips.
He says the government car given to him is old and has travelled nearly four lakh kilometres.
Shaji says the government car is not good for long journeys.
He also says he does not receive fuel money or travel payments for using the Range Rover.
A political opponent, K T Jaleel, criticized this arrangement.
Jaleel says ministers should not use private luxury cars as official vehicles.
He believes the government should give Shaji a newer official car instead.
The disagreement is about both practical travel needs and ethical rules for public officials.
Minister K M Shaji defended using a friend’s Range Rover for official travel.
Shaji said his government vehicle had covered nearly four lakh kilometres and was unsuitable for long-distance journeys.
He said the Range Rover’s owner can be verified and that he would claim no travel expenses from the government.
Former minister K T Jaleel called the arrangement a violation of Shaji’s oath of office and a matter of shame.
Jaleel urged the government to provide Shaji with a newer official vehicle instead of allowing use of a private luxury car.
- Who
- Kerala LSGD Minister K M Shaji and former minister and Left leader K T Jaleel.
- What
- A political dispute over Shaji’s use of a friend’s Range Rover as an official vehicle.
- Where
- Kerala, including travel from Thiruvananthapuram to other places.
- When
- The issue was reported on Friday; no specific date was provided.
- Why
- Shaji said his assigned government vehicle was unsuitable for long-distance travel, while Jaleel questioned the ethics of using a private luxury vehicle.
Critics
Minister’s Defense
Use of private luxury vehicle
Critics
K T Jaleel said using a friend’s Range Rover as an official vehicle was ethically wrong and potentially contrary to the minister’s oath to avoid special favour.
Minister’s Defense
K M Shaji said the vehicle belongs to a friend and that he used it because the government-provided car was unsuitable for long-distance travel.
Government responsibility
Critics
Jaleel said the chief minister and Tourism minister should provide Shaji with a newer official vehicle, such as an Innova Crysta.
Minister’s Defense
Shaji said he was not seeking government payment for using the private vehicle and described the arrangement as a personal financial loss.
Public image and extravagance
Critics
Jaleel argued that ministers who criticize extravagance should not themselves travel in luxury cars, even if those cars are provided free of charge.
Minister’s Defense
Shaji said the vehicle owner’s background could be checked and that he had no reason to fear scrutiny.
Key facts
- Minister
- K M Shaji, who holds the Local Self Government Development portfolio
- Vehicle used
- A friend’s Range Rover
- Government vehicle condition
- Shaji said it had travelled nearly four lakh kilometres and was unsuitable for long-distance travel
- Expenses claimed
- Shaji said he would claim no money, diesel costs, or kilometre-based payments from the government
- Official authorization
- Shaji said a government number plate was placed on the vehicle with government permission
- Criticism
- K T Jaleel called the arrangement a violation of the oath of office and ethically wrong
- Alternative proposed
- Jaleel suggested providing Shaji with a relatively new government Innova Crysta
Quotes
K T Jaleel
Former Keralam minister and Left leader
“The vehicle given to me by the government is not capable of travelling from Thiruvananthapuram to other places. It is a vehicle that has been used extensively and has travelled nearly four lakh kilometres. So I used my friend's vehicle for local travel.”
deccanchronicle.com
“Naturally, as a human being, he may have a special affection for the friend who gave him the car. But would that not be contrary to the words he uttered while taking the oath that he would act without any special favour or prejudice towards anyone?”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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