Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his new son-in-law Mohammed Riyaz who is the minister for PWD and another minister were denied permission by Union Home Ministry to visit UAE and other West Asian countries. The entourage of the chief minister was scheduled to leave Kerala this week end to attend civic receptions planned by the heads of the countries.
This has come as a setback to Vijayan who was seen in a sombre mood last Tuesday at Thiruvananthapuram when Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the Vande Bharat Express allocated to the State. Vijayan, in contrast to his aggressive posture, remained content with expressing his gratitude to the Prime Minister for granting the semi-high speed train to the State and other development works. But by Sunday the mood of the Chief Minister took a volte-face and lambasted the Prime Minister and the Union Government for denying the State it’s due rights. Sources who are privy to the state of affairs in Kerala told The Pioneer that there was nothing surprising in the Centre’s decision to derail Vijayan’s dreams.
“The Home Minister had been told that Vijayan and his gang were visiting West Asia as part of Dubai Investment Summit. The chief minister was asked by the Home Ministry about his role in the summit and also asked whether Kerala was make any investments in Dubai. When the State said there was no plan to make any investments, the ministry asked the chief minister and his team to stay put in Kerala,” said a senior Kerala official who did not want his name to be quoted.
The official also disclosed that the Centre has noted with concern Vijayan leaving the State last time without informing the Governor. Governor Mohammed Arif Khan had stirred a hornet’s nest when he disclosed last time that Vijayan did not inform him about his foreign jaunt.