In a major political escalation, Kerala's Leader of the Opposition, V D Satheesan, has launched a scathing attack on the state's Left Democratic Front (LDF) government. He accused the administration of exerting extreme pressure on the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to protect leaders of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) who are implicated in the sensational gold heist case at the sacred Sabarimala temple.
Allegations of SIT Infiltration and Political Interference
Speaking to reporters in Kochi on Friday, Satheesan alleged a deliberate attempt to compromise the investigation. He claimed the government is trying to infiltrate the SIT by inducting police officers with known CPM leanings, which could lead to the leaking of crucial investigation secrets. The Congress leader asserted that this move is a calculated design to shield high-ranking members of the ruling party from legal scrutiny.
Dismissing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's previous assertion that his office did not interfere in the case, Satheesan pointed to the current situation. "Three CPM leaders are already in jail in connection with the case and many more are waiting in queue," he alleged, suggesting deeper involvement within the party ranks.
CM's Remarks Labeled a Diversionary Tactic
Satheesan also responded sharply to the Chief Minister's recent remarks regarding prime accused Unnikrishnan Potti appearing in a photograph with Congress leader Sonia Gandhi. He labeled this as a blatant diversionary tactic to shift public attention away from the core issues of the probe.
"The SIT is not probing who the accused took a photo with. If that is the criterion, the Chief Minister should explain his own photos with Potti," Satheesan countered. He emphasized that the investigation's true focus should remain on a series of thefts at the Sabarimala temple that occurred from 2019 onwards, during the current LDF government's reign. He noted that the Kerala High Court is closely monitoring the progress of this case.
Broader Accusations of Political Understanding
Broadening his criticism, the Opposition leader also targeted the Chief Minister's political relationships. He alleged a tacit understanding between the CPM and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), citing the state government's unilateral decision regarding the PM SHRI school scheme as evidence.
Furthermore, Satheesan trained his guns on SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan. He accused Natesan of acting as the Chief Minister's mouthpiece to lead what he termed a 'heinous communal and hate campaign' against the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a key ally of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF).
These allegations from the Leader of the Opposition mark a significant intensification of the political battle in Kerala, centering on the integrity of a high-profile investigation into temple thefts. The claims put the spotlight back on the government's handling of the sensitive Sabarimala case and its broader political ramifications.
