Kerala CMO clarifies on Vijayan's statements made in media interview

Thiruvananthapuram: As the ruling CPI(M) in Kerala tries to wriggle out of the row over Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's purported remarks against the Muslim-dominated Malappuram district, the Chief Minister's Office clarified on Tuesday he had not mentioned any particular place or region during his interaction with the media house.

In an apparent bid to counter dissident left-front MLA P V Anvar's allegation that police was looting gold seized from smugglers at Karipur airport in Malappuram, Vijayan said in an interview to a daily that money from gold smuggling and hawala through the airport in Malappuram were used for "anti-state" and "anti-national activities".

With opposition Congress, Indian Union Muslim League (IUM-L) and various Muslim outfits strongly reacting to it, the Chief Minister's press secretary P M Manoj sent a letter to the daily's editor stating that certain statements were wrongly attributed to the CM in the interview that was published on Monday.

"The Chief Minister never mentioned any particular place or region and used the terms "anti-State" or "anti-national activities" during the interview. These statements do not reflect the Chief Minister’s views and the Kerala government’s stance on such matters. The wrongful attribution of these statements has led to unwarranted controversy and misinterpretation. A clarification that accurately presents the Chief Minister’s actual views would be crucial in restoring public understanding and preventing further misinterpretation," said the letter that was made public by the CMO.

Congress and IUML as well Anvar had alleged that Vijayan's remarks against Malappuram was aimed at helping the BJP and Sangh Parivar outfits as they often try to frame the Muslim-dominated district in bad light. Various Muslim outfits including those who had been supporting the CPI(M) had also openly flayed the anti-Malappuram remarks.

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan asked what action did the Chief Minister take against the use of money from gold smuggling and hawala transactions for 'anti-national' acts.

Vijayan's remarks against Malappuram had also not gone down well with the CPI(M)'s coalition partners in Kerala.

Meanwhile, VIjayan had made similar remarks during a press conference held last week. He had then said by citing figures that major chunk of the smuggled gold and hawala money seized in the state during the last three years were from Malappuram.

He alleged that Anvar's accusations against the police action of smugglers were aimed at helping the same racket.