The alleged meeting had become a political storm in Kerala as the Opposition UDF in the state alleged that the ADGP hatched a plan to disrupt the Thrissur Pooram and helped the BJP to gain political leverage during the Lok Sabha elections. The CPI had also come out with similar allegations.
Published Sep 25, 2024 | 2:41 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 25, 2024 | 2:41 PM
A fresh rift developing within #Kerala's Left Democratic Front (LDF) over the alleged meeting between MR Ajith Kumar and an RSS leader. (MR Ajith Kumar/Facebook)
After much delay, the CPI(M)-led the Kerala government directed the state police to investigate the alleged meeting between Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) (Law and Order) MR Ajith Kumar and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leaders Dattatreya Hosabale and Ram Madhav.
According to sources, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday, 25 September, ordered the Director General of Police (DGP) Sheikh Darvesh Saheb to conduct the inquiry.
The alleged meeting had become a political storm in Kerala as the Opposition UDF in the state alleged that the ADGP hatched a plan to disrupt the Thrissur Pooram and helped the BJP to gain political leverage during the Lok Sabha elections. The CPI had also raised similar allegations.
In an order issued on Wednesday, the DGP has been tasked with overseeing the investigation.
The team will collect statements from those involved in the case. According to sources, a notice has already been sent to RSS leader Jayakumar concerning the issue.
Vijayan had assured action against the ADGP during an LDF meeting two weeks ago. This investigation adds further pressure on Ajith Kumar, who is already under scrutiny following allegations from Nilambur MLA PV Anvar and incidents linked to the disruptions during Thrissur Pooram.
As part of the probe, statements from the RSS leaders will be recorded by the DGP. Ajith Kumar is said to have acknowledged the meeting to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), describing it as a personal visit.
However, it is now alleged that he travelled with A Jayakumar, an RSS pracharak and his former classmate, raising questions about the nature of the visit.
The situation has been further complicated by allegations from the Leader of the Opposition, VD Satheesan, who claimed that the ADGP acted as a messenger on behalf of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
According to Satheesan, the meeting was part of a broader effort to negotiate with the BJP leadership on sensitive issues, including investigations by central agencies.
“Ajith Kumar met the RSS leader as a messenger on behalf of the CM,” Satheesan alleged. “If the intelligence wing had caught wind of the meeting and informed the Home Department, why didn’t they act on it for the past year?”
Satheesan further accused the chief minister’s political secretary, P Sasi, and Ajith Kumar of being untouchable due to their knowledge of “many secrets.”
He hinted that the real power within the CPI(M) lies not with the party but with a select group in the CMO, implying that the ADGP’s actions were beyond the party’s control. “It’s the power group centred in the CM’s Office that controls the affairs,” Satheesan remarked.
The BJP had rejected the allegations, with state president K Surendran calling the UDF’s claims baseless. Surendran also criticised attempts to link the alleged 2023 meeting with the 2024 Thrissur Pooram disruptions.
“There is nothing unnatural in the meeting,” Surendran said. “Satheesan alleged that the meeting took place in a hotel. That’s wrong. RSS leaders will not stay in hotels. The meeting took place at Thrissur Vivekodayam School where Hosabale was staying.”
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil)
