A sharp war of words flared up between the opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and ruling CPM-led Left Democratic Front, on October 1, in connection with the alleged remarks of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan allegedly insulting the residents of Malappuram district. UDF alleged that CM’s remarks pointed out a large number of smuggled gold carries interdicted by the State Police outside the Karippoor Airport. But, the chief minister’s office (CMO) has denied the allegations levelled by UDF. CMO statement said that CM did not mention any particular region or people while referring to the huge amount of hawala cash and contraband gold confiscated by the Kerala Police. But obviously, CM was targeting P.V. Anvar MLA, who was recently expelled from the CPM Legislative Party after he unleashed sharp allegations against CM Pinarayi Vijayan and his Political Secretary P. Sasi.
CPM consider the Opposition’s attacks against the party (CPM) as fabricated ones to diminish the growing popularity the party enjoys among minorities in the wake of the LDF government’s “uncompromising” stand against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 and abrogation of Jammu Kashmir’s special status under Article 370 and several other issues.
CPM’s protests and CMO’s clarifications have not prevented the UDF from their fierce attack against the LDF, Pinarayi and LDF government. Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) general secretary P.M.A. Salam, Congress Working Committee member Ramesh Chennithala, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president K. Sudhakaran and LoP V.D. Satheesan have attacked the CPM for allegedly picturing Malappuram, a district with Muslim majority, as a haven of economic offenders. P.M.A. Salam alleged that Pinarayi Vijayan was playing to the tune of BJP and tries to engineer a communal divide for political dividends. He said, most of the gold carriers intercepted outside the airport were residents of Kannur district, a stronghold of CPM in Kerala.
Ramesh Chennithala said, Pinarayi has blasted an entire minority community in his campaign against P.V. Anvar, his (CM’s) former blue-eyed boy.
LoP V.D. Satheesan challenged Pinarayi to reveal proof that gold smugglers used their profit for anti-national activities; if it is true, Pinarayi should tell the public what action the Police have taken to break the alleged nexus.
K Sudhakaran said, CMO is immersed in gold smuggling. His former alter ego M. Sivasankar IAS was in jail in this connection, not the people of Malappuram.
MV Govindan, CPM state secretary tried to counter the UDF’s allegation stating that they (UDF) have partnered with ‘fundamentalist’ Jamaat-e-Islamic and Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), the political wing of the outlawed Popular Front of India (PFI). The idea is to instigate dissatisfaction among the minority community against the LDF and the CPM.
Meanwhile, P.A. Mohammed Riyas, Kerala minister, and also the son-law of Pinarayi, said that Jamaat-e-Islaami and SDPI are the ‘sleeping partners’ of UDF. Communist regime headed by E.M.S. Namboothirippad had launched the Malappuram district.
Anwar sharpened his attack against Pinarayi Vijayan. He said, CM’s counter to his gold smuggling allegations is sans sanity. He said, if he wants, LDF would lose power in at least 25 Grama Panchayats in Malappuram district alone. Loss will spread to Palakkad and Kozhikkode district also. He has conducted a survey regarding the forming a new political party and 1.2 million people responded to it, Anvar claimed. And, 90 % people gave ‘positive’ answers. He claimed that the huge turnout in his public meeting on September 29 proved the support he enjoys. He repeated his earlier allegation that CM’s Political Secretary P. Sasi plays important role in gold smuggling. He will address further public gatherings and would not attend the assembly on the first two days of the session. He hopes to get a chair there, if not he would sit on the floor !
Governor to seek Action Taken Report
Kerala Governor Dr Arif Mohammed Khan, on October 1, stated that CM Pinarayi Vijayan should respond to the gold smuggling allegations. Talking to the media, Governor said that he would seek an Action Taken Report from the Government in this regard. It is about the gold smuggling and the anti-national activities.
The entire episode proves that Kerala politics undergoes a conspicuous change. The nature of the polarisation to happen is not yet clear. Observers do await.
