CPI(M) says Kerala CM knew MDMA accused since 2021

CPI(M) state secretary M.V. Govindan on Thursday, August 13, alleged that Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan had known one of the accused in a Kasaragod MDMA case since 2021, escalating the party's attack on the chief minister over the arrest of a Youth Congress activist.

Govindan's remarks came shortly after Satheesan denied claims that one of the accused, Muhammad Hussain, was his social media coordinator. Satheesan had said he knew both Hussain and the other accused.

Abdul Salam, and that Hussain, a Youth Congress activist, had been injured in a police lathi charge in Perumbavoor during the Nava Kerala Sadas led by then-Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Satheesan said he later visited Hussain's home after party workers reminded him of a promise to do so.

At a press conference, Govindan displayed social media posts and photographs he said showed Satheesan and Hussain had known each other since 2021 well before the Nava Kerala Sadas reached Perumbavoor on December 10, 2023.

He said the images spanned from 2021 to October 2023, contradicting Satheesan's account that the two met only after the assault at the Sadas.

Govindan also disputed Satheesan's claim of meeting Hussain just three or four times since the event, saying more than 18 photographs showed the two together on various occasions, including at Satheesan's home and office, birthday celebrations and a banquet in Kozhikode.

He questioned Satheesan's denial that Hussain was part of his social media team, noting that Hussain's Facebook profile stated he had worked with the opposition leader's social media team for five years, and asked why Satheesan had not clarified the claim if it were false.

Govindan raised questions over the appointment of a new nodal officer for Operation Toofan, the state's anti-narcotics drive, seeking closer scrutiny of the move.

He also accused the government of facilitating removal of social media posts and news reports about Satheesan's alleged links to the case, calling it a threat to press freedom.

On a separate matter, Govindan accused Satheesan of misleading the public over the singing of the full version of Vande Mataram at Independence Day events.

Satheesan had said Thursday, August 13, that the state had a clear policy on the matter that would become evident during the August 15 celebrations, responding to questions after Kerala Chief Secretary Bishwanath Sinha wrote that the Centre's instructions on the song should be followed in full.

Satheesan said the chief secretary had not issued a circular but merely forwarded the Centre's instructions to the Local Self Government Department.

Govindan alleged Satheesan had wrongly claimed that failing to sing the full version could invite up to three years in prison, saying no such legal provision exists.

He said the Congress had historically held that singing the first two stanzas was sufficient and accused Satheesan of now avoiding that position, warning that treating the Centre's directive as binding without modification marked a troubling shift.

Govindan further criticized the state's decision to sign an agreement under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban scheme, alleging Kerala had given in to central government conditions.

He noted that lakhs of houses had been built under the state's LIFE Mission housing scheme and said the previous LDF government had opposed displaying central government logos on such homes, arguing that residents should not be made to present their homes as charity.

He said the government's overall approach suggested the chief minister was drifting toward policies favoured by the Centre and the Sangh Parivar.