Making it obvious that he was fit for yet another furious political battle even at the age of 89, Kerala Assembly’s Opposition leader VS Achuthanandan on Wednesday unleashed an intense attack against the Muslim league, second biggest constituent of the Congress-led ruling UDF, alleging that it was functioning as a parallel government in the State.
Talking to mediapersons in Thiruvananthapuram, Achuthanandan questioned the legality of the appointment of Abdul Rasheed, former gunman of Industries Minister PK Kunhalikutty of the Muslim league, as passport officer in Malappuram. He also called for a probe into the “mysterious” death of Kunhalikutty’s former aide Abbas Sait.
Annoyed deeply by Achuthanandan’s attack, the Muslim league reacted harshly against his charges. While senior league leader KPA Majeed called him senile, Kunhalikutty said Achuthanandan was not sparing even those who were dead. The Muslim Youth league threatened not to allow him to enter Malappuram, Kerala’s Muslim-majority district.
“How can a policeman of the rank of DySP be appointed as passport officerIJ” Achuthanandan asked in reference to Abdul Rasheed’s appointment, adding that explanation for this should come from Union Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahmed, Muslim league’s national president. “The league is functioning as a parallel government,” he alleged.
The appointment of Rasheed, in violation of all concerned rules, was meant for promoting human trafficking through the Kozhikode international airport, he said. “It was a racket trafficking girls aged 17 years or 20 years under house-maid visas to the Gulf,” he said, adding that he would petition the Prime Minister and Defence Minister on this.