This story is from June 3, 2020

Kerala: Ex-chief secretary Tom Jose rejects allegations

Former chief secretary Tom Jose dismissed the allegations that the chopper ride that he took two days before his retirement was a pleasure ride.
Kerala: Ex-chief secretary Tom Jose rejects allegations
File photo of Tom Jose
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former chief secretary Tom Jose dismissed the allegations that the chopper ride that he took two days before his retirement was a pleasure ride.
He told TOI that it was a silly allegation. "I have been the director, Air and have flown in all kinds of planes including fighter aircraft. I have also travelled with the prime minister and other dignitaries in different kinds of choppers many times.
To imply that I have taken a pleasure trip in a helicopter, that too on the last day of my service, is just laughable," he said.
He said that he, along with the present chief secretary Vishwas Mehta and state police chief Loknath Behera went to Pamba to sort out a problem regarding the de-silting of the river. He said that they also visited the Thottappally spillway where the work is being done to ensure that Kuttanad area does not get flooded again.
On Monday, KPCC president Mullappally Ramachandran alleged that the helicopter rented out by the state police was used for pleasure ride on the eve of chief secretary's retirement. On Tuesday, opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala also found fault with the hasty chopper rider.
On the possibility of a post-retirement assignment in the government, Tom Jose said "I have no such intention. Right now, I am taking some time off to spend time with my family and for self-introspection."
He said that the two floods and the Covid-19 outbreak he faced as chief secretary were unique and challenging in their own way. "The floods of 2019 was lesser in magnitude compared to the 2018 floods. However, Coronavirus is a totally different challenge as it is an unseen enemy. In case of floods, there are parameters that help us predict things up to a certain extent. This is not the case with a pandemic like Coronavirus," he said.

He ruled out speculations that there are divisions within IAS to the extent of affecting the governance of the state. "There is no rivalry among officers. There may be professional differences but that is necessary for a proper decision to crystallise," he said.
On the several foreign trips undertaken by the chief minister, he said that such kinds of reaching out will benefit the state in the long run. "As a progressive state, it is only natural that we reach out to explore possibilities. These may not result in instant results," he said.
On the police encounters of the Maoists he said: "In a democratic society, there is no place for armed rebellion. When people wage war against the union, the government is bound to counter it," he said.
He said that not being able to address the garbage issues in the state will be a regret for him when he looks back at his tenure as the chief secretary.
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