Security personnel stand guard outside the residence of former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted a raid at Vijayan's residence as part of its investigation against his daughter in the CMRL money laundering case, in Thiruvananthapuram (PTI Photo)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CPM on Wednesday decided to launch a statewide agitation to protest the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids against former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in connection with the CMRL payment case.

After a meeting of top leaders, CPM state secretary M.V. Govindan told the media that party workers would hold a torchlight protest across 14 districts in the evening against what they see as a “politically motivated” ED action. “The raids are an attack on the CPM. There is a conspiracy to destroy the Left Democratic Front (LDF),” he said.
He alleged that Congress and the BJP are united in demanding action against Pinarayi Vijayan, recalling that during the recent assembly election campaign, Rahul Gandhi repeatedly questioned why the ED had not arrested Pinarayi. The case against Pinarayi, he claimed, is a fabrication by central agencies, similar to false cases registered against AAP leaders in Delhi, including former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, which were later quashed by the courts.
He further questioned why no raids were being conducted against top Congress and UDF leaders whose names also appeared in the CMRL list if the case was truly about taking money from the company.
The LDF allies CPI, RJD, Congress (S), NCP, KC(M), KC(B) will also take part in the protest in the evening.
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