Thiruvananthapuram | Senior CPI(M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday asserted that there was no irregularity in the previous LDF government's efforts to bring Lionel Messi and the Argentina football team to the state and said the present government could investigate the matter.
"Let them investigate. It will not affect us," Vijayan said at a press conference here, responding to questions on the reports of the UDF government's move to order a probe into the proposal.
The former CM said certain procedures had indeed been followed in connection with the proposed visit and former Sports Minister V Abdurahiman had already explained the matter.
"I can categorically say that there was no irregularity as alleged in the matter," he said.
Vijayan also alleged that the issue was being raised now to divert attention from controversies confronting the present UDF government.
He said people across Kerala wanted Messi to visit the state and that the government had welcomed the proposal, but the Argentina team later could not come due to reasons of its own.
"What investigation needs to be conducted can be said only after investigating," he said.
On questions about the then sports minister's visit to Spain and whether a separate agreement was required, Vijayan said the agreement was not with the government and that Abdurahiman had already explained the details.
The veteran said his government had decided to provide a stadium for the proposed match and had initiated the procedures required for Messi's visit.
Vijayan said the initial steps required to bring Messi to Kerala had been taken and certain understandings had been reached as part of the process.
He noted that Abdurahiman had said the relevant documents were in his possession and that further details could be sought from him.
"I am not someone who is obliged to know the entire details of Messi's visit. I know some aspects, but I don't need to know everything with its regard. But, I can say with certainty that there was no irregularity in it," Vijayan said.
His remarks came amid reports that the UDF government was likely to order a probe into alleged irregularities and procedural lapses in the previous LDF government's efforts to bring Messi and the Argentina team to Kerala for a friendly match.
Sports Minister O J Janeesh on Wednesday rejected Abdurahiman's defence of the proposal and indicated that an investigation could be ordered. Janeesh alleged that government machinery was misused to facilitate financial gains for a private individual.
Janeesh also rejected Abdurahiman's claim that the government had not suffered any financial loss in connection with the proposed event. He alleged that official procedures were not followed from the beginning and that there was a lack of transparency in selecting the sponsor and handling the proposal.
On Monday, Janeesh had confirmed that the Sports Department had submitted its inquiry report into the controversy surrounding Messi's proposed visit.
The report, prepared by the Sports Department Special Secretary after examining files available with the department, was handed over to the government for further action, he had said.
Abdurahiman, however, had rejected the allegations and maintained that the previous LDF government followed all prescribed procedures while attempting to bring the Argentina team to Kerala.
In a detailed statement, he had said the state government had not suffered even a "single rupee" loss in connection with the proposal, as the agreement for the proposed match was between the Argentina Football Association (AFA) and the sponsor and did not impose any financial liability on the government.