Describing Olympian Anju Bobby George, heading the state Sports Council, as 'pride' of the south Indian Kerala state, CPI(M) on Sunday said the Marxist party led government was not for 'driving out anyone'.
"We are not for driving out anyone. Anju is Kerala's pride who has brought laurels to the state at the national and international levels," Communist Party of India (Marxist) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram.
His response assumes significance as speculations are rife that the veteran athlete is likely to be shunted out as Sports council president in the light of differences between her and Sports minister E P Jayarajan over certain concessions being availed by her.
The Arjuna awardee had recently alleged that the minister had "insulted" her by accusing her of corruption. Anju had complained to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also, but he had defended his colleague.
Anju had on Saturday written a five page open letter to the Sports minister, stating that he should order a 'truthful and transparent' probe into the happenings in the council during the last 10 years and that she would return the Rs 40,000 claimed by her as flight charges.
Kodiyeri said Anju had herself stated that she wanted the government to launch a probe into not just the alleged corruption during her six months term, but the happenings in the Sports council since the last 10 years.
"Let the government look into all the aspects', he said adding that Anju had spoken to him also.