CPI(M) questions Kerala government over ED-based CMRL inquiry (Img: X)
New Delhi: The CPI(M) on Tuesday lashed out at Congress-led Kerala government for ordering a police inquiry based on an Enforcement Directorate (ED) report in the alleged CMRL bribery case involving former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter Veena T and son-in-law P A Mohamed Riyas.
CPI(M)'s criticism came after the state government directed the police to examine the allegations following legal advice on the ED’s request.
Party also questioned the Congress leadership’s position on the use of central agencies against Opposition leaders, arguing that the party’s stand appeared different in Kerala.
As soon as state Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala announced that the state government had entrusted the Director General of Police with an inquiry into the ED report, CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby said the party would fight the matter “legally and politically”.
“This has to be faced legally and politically. There have been many instances of the Enforcement Directorate being used to achieve the BJP’s political objectives,” Baby told reporters in New Delhi.
He alleged that central agencies had been used against Opposition parties and their leaders in several cases, after which some of those leaders eventually joined the BJP.
“Everyone knows that the BJP has brought many people from the Congress and other parties into its fold in this manner,” he claimed.
Baby said the CPI(M) and its leadership would not abandon the party or join the BJP because of such pressure. He also said that the Congress itself opposed the use of central agencies against Opposition leaders.
“But in Keralam, a strange situation has emerged where the state government appears to be joining hands with the (Narendra) Modi-led government in targeting the CPI(M),” he alleged.
Baby said Congress leaders in Kerala and the state government should examine the political implications of the decision, while also urging the party’s national leadership to consider the matter.
“What is the stand of the Congress leadership at the national level against the way agencies under the Narendra Modi-led government are targeting Congress and other Opposition leaders?” Baby further asked.
Riyas, meanwhile, denied any wrongdoing and said he would continue to face the matter confidently.
“Nothing has been done wrong. So, will move forward confidently,” he said.
He also pointed out that political parties other than the BJP had criticised the ED’s functioning, with Congress among those that had strongly opposed its approach.
“That a Congress-led state government has taken a decision to order an inquiry based on an ED report is something society will discuss,” he said, adding that legal action against “fake news” would continue.
Chennithala said the decision followed consideration of the Advocate General’s legal opinion on the ED report. The ED had sought registration of an FIR against Vijayan, Veena and Riyas under the Prevention of Corruption Act, citing “evidence” it said was gathered during its investigation and searches under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The DGP had forwarded the legal opinion to the Home Secretary, who placed the matter before the government for further directions. The government subsequently moved to have the matter investigated by the state police.
