A day after the Congress trounced the ruling CPI (M) in the by-poll held at Puthuppalli Assembly constituency, Leader of Opposition VD Satheeshan made a startling disclosure against the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Kerala Government on Saturday.
Though the Congress and the CPI (M) are on the same side of the fence against the “communal” BJP Government at the Centre, it did not prevent Satheeshan from mounting a diatribe against the Marxists in the State.
“Pinarayi Vijayan has become a prisoner of a cartel of persons in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO). The control of the Government and governance is no more with the Chief Minister. A group of persons led by Muhammed Riyaaz has hijacked the Government in the State,” said Satheeshan while addressing a Press conference at Kozhikode on Saturday. Muhammed Riyaz, popularly known as MuRiyaaz is the minister for PWD and Tourism in the council of ministers in Kerala. More than that he is the new husband of Veena, Vijayan’s daughter.
“The Government is fully under the control of Riyaaz and the Chief Minister is in the dark about what is happening around. The other day we saw the reconstitution of the Forward Community Commission in the State.
Ganesh Kumar, the incumbent chairman of the commission, was ousted and a new person was brought in along with a new team. When Ganesh Kumar, who came to know about his removal through TV news encountered chief minister, the latter feigned ignorance. Even the Party secretary Govindan too expressed his helplessness over the issue,” said Sathishan. The Congress leaders also alleged that there were separate rules and laws for the Marxists who are accused of crimes like sexual assaults, rape, murder and house breaking.
“The police remain mute spectators when the CPI(M) cadres attack police stations and ‘liberate’ comrades from custody. Criminal activities done by Marxists are investigated and prosecuted by the party while cases against those who are not CPI(M) members are sent to police stations,” charged the LOP.
He said that Ganesh Kumar was removed as chairman of commission for daring to criticize department of Public Works and praising former minister G Sudhakaran who was denied ticket in 2021 assembly election despite his good performance as minister.