Chennithala Denies Role in ED Raids at Ex-CM Vijayan’s Residences
"We have no intimation regarding ED raids against Pinarayi Vijayan. Kerala police assistance not sought by the central agency," said Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala on Wednesday said the state government has no information about the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids against Former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his family members.
Speaking to reporters, Chennithala said neither the ED nor any other central agency had communicated anything regarding the raids, nor had they sought the help of Kerala Police in this matter. “I have spoken to the State Police Chief and the Home Secretary, and they informed me there was no intimation from the central agency and no request for police assistance,” he said.
CM Satheesan- PM Modi Meet Unrelated
When asked about the CPM’s claim that the raids took place a day after Chief Minister V. D. Satheeshan met Prime Minister Modi in Delhi, Chennithala said, “Do you mean to say that a newly elected chief minister shouldn’t meet the Prime Minister? Isn’t it normal for a chief minister who has just taken office to meet with the Prime Minister and brief him on the state’s issues? They are unnecessarily linking the visit to the raids. These are routine matters. Didn’t Pinarayi Vijayan, as Chief Minister, meet PM Modi on several occasions? You can see the political motive behind the CPM’s allegations,” he added.
On the CPM’s charge of a BJP-Congress nexus in such cases, the home minister said, “This is an oft-repeated narrative of the CPM. But such allegations are false and made with political motives. People know what the BJP, CPM, and Congress are. Such propaganda will not work.”
“The CPM had maintained very close ties with the BJP over the last ten years, but now the relationship seems to have broken. The CPM should inform the public about what went wrong in their alliance,” he added.
