Malappuram: 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 has insulted the Malappuram district.

The Chief Minister made these comments in an interview to an English newspaper. Protests have emerged, including from the Kanthapuram faction linked to the Left. Organisations such as 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.

Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala responded by stating that the Chief Minister’s comments are anti-minority and warned against holding Malappuram district responsible for any animosity directed at Anvar. The Muslim League has been alleging that in order to portray Malappuram in bad light more crimes were being registered in the district. The allegation raised by Anvar linking ADGP Ajith Kumar to the gold smuggling gang in Karipur had also sparked controversy.

DGP: Gold smuggling operations to continue

DGP Sheikh Darvesh Sahib has directed the police to continue operations initiated in Karipur to apprehend gold smugglers. He noted that, under the new legal provisions, police have the authority to seize smuggled gold, as discussed in a crime analysis meeting. ADGP Ajith Kumar also participated in the meeting.

What the Chief Minister said

Over the past five years, 150 kilograms of gold and Rs 123 crore in hawala money have been seized from Malappuram. This money is being used for anti-national activities.

An insult for Malappuram

The Chief Minister must clarify on what basis these statements were made. A statement insulting an entire region should not be made from the Chief Minister's position. This seems intended to please the BJP  — Muslim League general secretary P M A Salam

A move to malign Malappuram: Kerala Muslim Jamaat

Malappuram: The district committee of the Kerala Muslim Jamaat has demanded that the Chief Minister and other officials immediately withdraw from attempts to problematise Malappuram, a district that has been a centre of unparalleled harmony. It is extremely regrettable that allegations of gold smuggling and other financial transactions are being directed at an entire district, particularly centered around Karipur Airport.

Those responsible must demonstrate their commitment to lawfully dealing with such nefarious forces, instead of continually vilifying the entire district and its people in press conferences and interviews. As high-ranking police officials are being assigned to the district, there are clandestine attempts to exaggerate the number of criminal cases, thereby labelling it the most conflict-ridden district in the country. Meanwhile, authorities themselves are tarnishing the image of the district in relation to gold smuggling and illegal transactions. The Chief Minister’s characterisation of the district as complicit in anti-national activities is deeply anti-humanistic. The committee called for all communities to unite beyond caste, religion and political party to uphold the district's rich heritage.

Muslim Youth League demands apology from CM

Kondotty: The Muslim Youth League has demanded that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan retract his statement depicting Malappuram as a criminal district and apologise. They also decided to hold a Youth League rally in Chemmad on Wednesday to protest against government moves to protect the accused in the Faisal murder case.