While expressing regret over the police excesses, Antony maintained that certain actions were taken under unavoidable circumstances.
Published Sep 17, 2025 | 7:15 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 17, 2025 | 7:15 PM
AK Antony addresses press. (Supplied)
Synopsis: The move came against the backdrop of Tuesday’s adjournment motion discussion in the Assembly on police atrocities, where Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and LDF legislators highlighted incidents of police violence under the AK Antony’s government — notably the Sivagiri police action of 1995, the Maradu riot case, and the Muthanga Adivasi firing.
After years of political silence, senior Congress leader and former Kerala Chief Minister AK Antony convened a rare press meet on Wednesday, 17 September, at the KPCC headquarters, taking on the LDF government over its repeated references to police excesses during his tenure as the chief minister.
The move came against the backdrop of Tuesday’s adjournment motion discussion in the Assembly on police atrocities, where Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and LDF legislators highlighted incidents of police violence under the AK Antony’s government — notably the Sivagiri police action of 1995, the Maradu riot case, and the Muthanga Adivasi firing.
Antony, who had kept himself away from Kerala politics since 2004, said he was compelled to respond after witnessing the “relentless repetition” of these incidents in political debates for over two decades.
“I bid goodbye to Kerala politics in 2004. But for the past 21 years, the LDF has kept repeating Sivagiri and Muthanga. I think it’s time to bring clarity. That’s why I decided to meet the press today,” Antony said.
“The LDF has been insulting me again and again. Since I moved to Delhi, there was no one here to state the truth. I had thought of responding after the Assembly elections. But when I saw the one-sided attack continuing, I realized there was no point in waiting any longer,” he added.
While expressing regret over the police excesses, Antony maintained that certain actions were taken under unavoidable circumstances.
On Sivagiri (1995), Antony explained that the police were forced to intervene after a court directive asked the government to ensure a newly elected panel assumed charge.
“The government tried its best to avoid tension. Several rounds of talks were held. But after the High Court warned of contempt, police action became unavoidable,” he said.
He recalled that the subsequent EK Nayanar-led LDF government appointed a judicial commission on the incident.
“That report is still with the government. My demand is simple: release the report. Let the people see the truth.”
On the Muthanga Adivasi firing, which led to the death of an Adivasi protester, Antony pointed to directives from the then Union government.
“A group of Adivasis had trespassed into the Muthanga sanctuary and set up huts. Initially, everyone supported the government. But after the police action, the tide turned against us. The Centre had asked the state to evict them immediately. A CBI report on this incident is also with the state government. Release that too,” Antony demanded.
He added, “All the facts are in the CBI report. Why is that report still under wraps? Let the truth come out. But I am the only one being blamed. The Left and sections of the media accused me of burning tribals alive. That was never the truth.”
Antony asserted that his government had, in fact, distributed more land to tribals than any other.
“After I left the Chief Minister’s chair, has any tribal organization returned to Muthanga, built huts, and staged a protest? The truth is no. If evicting tribals was a crime, why did successive LDF governments — led by V S Achuthanandan and Pinarayi Vijayan for 15 years — never settle them inside the sanctuary or give them land there?” he asked.
“Why is only my government in the dock? The same silence continues around Maradu too,” he pointed out.
(Edited by Sumavarsha, with inputs from Dileep V Kumar)
