In a sharp political attack, senior Congress leader and AICC general secretary K C Venugopal on Saturday launched a scathing critique against Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The criticism centred on the CM's support for a controversial statement made by a senior Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader regarding the sensitive Marad riot case.
Venugopal Condemns CM's 'Carbon Copy' Support for Balan
Speaking at a book release event in Kannur, Venugopal expressed his dismay. He revealed that he initially believed the contentious remarks made by CPM leader A K Balan were merely his personal opinion. The situation turned grave, however, when Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan publicly endorsed Balan's stance, presenting what Venugopal termed a "carbon copy" of the original statement.
"What the CM has said is a kind of communalism that even Sangh Parivar does not express," Venugopal asserted, levelling a serious charge against the leftist leader. The controversy stems from Balan's earlier claim that if the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) comes to power in Kerala, the Jamaat-e-Islami would control the state's home department. Balan had further suggested that such a scenario could lead to more incidents like the Marad riot, a communal clash that occurred in 2002.
Venugopal stated it was profoundly shocking that a communist chief minister would lend his support to such divisive statements, which he implied were aimed at polarising the electorate along communal lines.
Demands for a Comprehensive Sabarimala Probe
Shifting focus to another high-profile case, Venugopal addressed the ongoing Sabarimala gold theft investigation. He urged the special investigation team (SIT) probing the case to ensure a thorough and unbiased inquiry. Venugopal specifically cautioned that the probe should not allow the former devaswom minister to escape scrutiny while focusing on the alleged involvement of the temple tantri (head priest).
"The ongoing investigation should be extended to every person involved in the scam," he demanded. Venugopal alleged that the state government holds vested interests in the case and is attempting to pressure the SIT to influence the direction of the probe.
Alleges BJP's Selective Outrage in Temple Case
Venugopal also took aim at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for its stance on the Sabarimala gold theft. He pointed out that the BJP remained largely silent on the issue until the arrest of the tantri, Kandadararu Rajeevaru. Their subsequent allegations, according to Venugopal, proved their intention was to protect certain individuals involved in the scandal.
The Congress leader declined to comment directly on allegations that the tantri was trapped in the case, noting that the investigation is currently under the observation of the Kerala High Court. His comments in Kannur underscore the escalating political tensions in Kerala, with major parties clashing over issues of communalism and corruption ahead of crucial electoral battles.
