Thiruvananthapuram: A day after a national daily published a controversial interview of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the CM's press secretary issued a letter stating that the facts "have been wrongly attributed to the Chief Minister."

The letter expresses serious concerns over the content of the interview, titled "CPI(M) has always stridently opposed RSS and other Hindutva forces in Kerala." It also provides clarification on remarks related to "Malappuram district" and "gold smuggling", asserting that the Chief Minister's comments were distorted in the interview. Following the interview's release, widespread protests and criticism ensued.

The letter from the Chief Minister’s office highlights a specific section of an interview that has ignited public controversy and misrepresented the Chief Minister’s views. It cites the statement: "For example, 150 kg of gold and hawala money worth ₹123 crore were seized by the State police in the last five years from Malappuram district. This money is entering Kerala for 'anti-State' and 'anti-national activities.' The allegations that you are referring to are a reaction to such action by our government."

The Chief Minister’s office clarified that he never specified any particular location or used the terms "anti-State" or "anti-national activities" during the interview. These misattributed statements do not reflect his views or the Kerala government’s position on these issues. The letter emphasizes that the wrongful attribution has resulted in unnecessary controversy and misinterpretation.

The Controversy

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is facing severe criticisms from various corners over his remarks that money coming to Malappuram through gold smuggling and hawala is intended for anti-national activities. Various organisations held that the Chief Minister had insulted the Malappuram district.

The Chief Minister made these comments in an interview with an English newspaper. Protests have emerged, including from the Kanthapuram faction linked to the Left. Organisations such as the Muslim League, Kerala Muslim Jamaat, Sunni Yuvajana Sangham (SYS) and Samastha Kerala Sunni Students Federation (SKSSF) have also voiced their opposition. They demand that the Chief Minister clarify what kind of anti-national activities the gold arriving in Malappuram is being used for. 

MLA P V Anvar with whom the CPM severed all ties, meanwhile, accused the Chief Minister of making anti-religious remarks.