‘It’s time the truth came out’: AK Antony urges Kerala Govt to release reports on Sivagiri, Muthanga and Marad incidents

Thiruvananthapuram: Senior Congress leader and former Kerala Chief Minister A K Antony has called on the state government to publish long-suppressed inquiry reports related to three controversial episodes during his tenure—Sivagiri Mutt police action (1995), the Muthanga tribal eviction (2003) and the communal violence in Marad.

Speaking to reporters, Antony said, “I quit Kerala politics in 2002. But I’ve been repeatedly attacked over two incidents—Sivagiri and Muthanga. It’s time the truth came out.”

On the Sivagiri Mutt standoff, Antony recalled being compelled to deploy police forces in October 1995 following repeated Kerala High Court orders. The move was aimed at enforcing the election result that saw Swami Prakashananda’s panel win control of the mutt. “I was deeply unhappy about sending police to a spiritual centre, but legal experts advised compliance to avoid contempt of court,” he said. He urged the government to release the commission report submitted during the Nayanar administration.

Expressing deep regret over the Muthanga incident, Antony, however, defended his record on tribal land distribution, stating, “I allotted the maximum land to Adivasis. But Muthanga was a protected wildlife sanctuary. We acted only after receiving three letters from the Vajpayee-led Central Government.” The 2003 eviction led to violent clashes and multiple deaths, prompting a CBI inquiry whose findings Antony now wants made public.

Though Antony did not elaborate on the Marad incident in this statement, sources close to the Congress veteran, also the former Defence Minister, confirmed that he believes transparency on all three issues is essential to counter political misrepresentation and uphold public accountability.

ANI