Thiruvananthapuram: In the face of mounting pressure from coalition partners, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has defended Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) M.R. Ajith Kumar, asserting that the police official will remain in his position. The Chief Minister's decision comes despite calls from parties within the Left Democratic Front (LDF), including the CPI and RJD, for Ajith Kumar's removal following his meetings with RSS leaders.
In the meeting, some LDF leaders criticised MLA P.V. Anvar for raising new allegations daily, while Pinarayi reminded them of the ‘problems’ Anvar had caused during his time with the UDF.
The CPI and RJD have expressed strong disapproval of Ajith Kumar's interactions with RSS leaders, arguing that such meetings are politically problematic. They have also alleged that the ADGP was responsible for the controversy surrounding Thrissur Pooram, a claim which P.C. Chacko, NCP state president, highlighted. In response, Chief Minister Vijayan has stated that these issues will be addressed in the ongoing investigation and assured that appropriate action will be taken if any wrongdoing is discovered.
Following the meeting, both Binoy Viswam and Varghese George reiterated their stance on the matter, underscoring that their position remains unchanged. CPM State Secretary M.V. Govindan and CPI State Secretary Binoy Viswam had held separate discussions prior to the coalition meeting.
Politically motivated
In the meeting, coalition partners shifted their focus to the involvement of Ajith Kumar with RSS leaders, labelling the issue as politically motivated. The agenda for the meeting included discussions on Wayanad's resettlement and upcoming by-elections, but the spotlight soon turned to Ajith Kumar’s interactions with RSS figures.
RJD leader Varghese George argued for the inclusion of the ADGP’s meetings with RSS leaders in the discussions, prompting the debate to centre on this issue. The coalition partners expressed that such interactions are politically problematic.
CM’s veiled attack
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan indirectly referred to past controversies involving P.V. Anvar, remembering his days with the UDF. He suggested that some individuals come from a different ‘political culture’.
Pinarayi remarked that there may be individuals within their ranks who believe, whether knowingly or unknowingly, that the ADGP met RSS leaders for personal reasons involving him or his daughter, as suggested by media reports. However, he stated that such concerns are irrelevant. In response, Binoy Viswam expressed complete confidence, asserting that there are no such thoughts or doubts regarding the Chief Minister.
‘It is not good to raise allegations everyday’
In the meeting, T.P. Ramakrishnan, LDF convener, called out Anvar for making an allegation everyday, stating that it is “not a healthy practice.”
Meanwhile, Varghese George pointed out that the BJP is making gradual gains in Kerala. He highlighted that securing a vote from Kerala in the presidential election was part of the RSS's agenda which they managed to achieve. Their vote share also climbed to 19 percent.
Taking all these factors into consideration, he argued that the ADGP's meetings with RSS leaders should be definitely viewed as a ‘political issue’. Binoy Viswam echoed this sentiment, stressing the seriousness of the situation.
Published: 12 Sept 2024, 08:42 am IST
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