UDF accuses LDF govt. of lacking clear explanation for ADGP-RSS ‘parleys’

After four hours of adjournment debate, UDF walks out of Kerala Assembly on Tuesday

A four-hour adjournment debate on the politically controversial meeting between a top law enforcer in the State and the apex leadership of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ended with the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) Opposition walking out of the Kerala Legislative Assembly on Tuesday. 

Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan accused the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) of obfuscating the issue by droning on about unrelated matters and filibustering for hours about Malabar’s political history. Mr. Satheesan also said the government failed to answer the UDF’s charge that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had, in an interview with the national media in New Delhi, “othered” the people of Malappuram by allegedly linking the district to gold smugglers and hawala racketeers who supposedly fund anti-nationals.

He dared Mr. Vijayan to prosecute the public relations agency that had supposedly arranged the controversial interview if the firm’s staff had inserted the “incendiary statement,” which the Chief Minister claimed was not his, into the news report. Mr. Satheesan said the government’s claim that the State Police Chief’s inquiry into Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) M.R. Ajith Kumar’s “secret parleys” with the RSS leadership and the accusations of corruption and criminality raised by a now-estranged ruling front legislator had turned up no credible evidence to indict the officer was ludicrous.

‘CM’s envoy’

He alleged that the police intelligence had reported directly to Mr. Vijayan about the ADGP-RSS meeting in 2023. However, the Chief Minister chose not to act. “Mr. Ajith Kumar was the CM’s envoy to the RSS,” he alleged. 

Local Self-Government department Minister M.B. Rajesh, who replied for Mr. Vijayan, dared Mr. Satheesan to table the purported intelligence report in the Assembly. He said using officers for political ends was the Congress’s decades-old method of operation, and not the LDF government’s.

“If the media reports that the ADGP had met the RSS leadership to get on the UPSC’s list for promotion to the post of Director General of Police (DGP) and also to wangle a presidential medal are true, then it is a severe breach of service rules. The Chief Minister has ordered a multi-tier probe into the accusations against the officer,” he said.

IUML national general secretary P.K. Kunhalikutty alleged that Sangh Parivar forces had exploited Mr. Vijayan’s interview to further their anti-minority narrative against Malappuram district and rail against the INDIA Bloc in the run-up to the Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana.

Trade charges

The LDF and the UDF traded charges of sharing a symbiotic relationship with the RSS. LDF members accused the UDF of playing into the Jamate-e-Islami and Social Democratic Party of India’s (SDPI) narrative that the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] was anti-Muslim myopically for short-term electoral dividends.

Members across the aisle raised points of order, prompting Speaker A.N. Shamseer’s intervention. The Speaker also cautioned members against personal attacks and reminded them that parliamentary etiquette was a pre-requisite for a healthy debate.

IUML legislator N. Samsudheen moved the adjournment motion. Mr. Vijayan stayed away from the House after doctors advised him voice rest.

Published - October 08, 2024 06:18 pm IST