Despite ADGP Ajith Kumar facing a slew of allegations, the officer in charge of law and order, Vijayan continued his "extraordinary protection" of the police officer, declining to initiate any immediate disciplinary action.
Published Oct 03, 2024 | 6:56 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 03, 2024 | 6:56 PM
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. (X)
As the 12th session of the 15th Kerala Legislative Assembly is set to commence on Friday, 4 October, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s press briefing on Thursday provided fresh ammunition to the Opposition, which is expected to aggressively target the government on several fronts.
The chief minister’s handling of key controversies, particularly surrounding Thrissur Pooram, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) MR Ajithkumar, and the remarks on alleged gold smuggling linked to Malappuram in The Hindu has raised more questions than answers, setting the stage for a contentious Assembly session.
Thrissur Pooram, Kerala’s iconic cultural festival symbolising religious harmony and coexistence, found itself embroiled in controversy this year.
Chief Minister Vijayan, during his press briefing, confirmed for the first time that there was indeed a conspiracy behind the disruption of the Pooram, though the specifics of the conspiracy remain murky.
Even though the government ordered a three-pronged investigation, the names of the culprits and the motivations behind the disruption are yet to be revealed.
According to the chief minister, from the outset, this year’s Pooram faced various challenges. Initially, there were disagreements over ground rent for the exhibition stage, which was resolved without significant incident.
A second issue arose around the use of elephants, which also was settled amicably.
However, as the Lok Sabha election campaign gained momentum, the festival saw attempts to disturb its smooth functioning, which the state government views as a deliberate attempt to create social unrest.
The chief minister has asserted that there was a concerted effort to subvert Kerala’s social fabric with an eye on the Lok Sabha elections.
However, it is learnt that the inquiry report submitted by ADGP Ajith Kumar, however, fell short of being comprehensive, prompting the government to initiate further investigations.
The chief minister stated that the state Cabinet which was convened on Thursday took the following decisions:
While the government has committed to taking necessary action based on these investigations, critics argue that the decision to delay punitive measures, particularly against the ADGP, reflects a deeper reluctance to hold top officials accountable.
Despite ADGP Ajith Kumar facing a slew of allegations, the officer in charge of law and order, Vijayan continued his “extraordinary protection” of the police officer, declining to initiate any immediate disciplinary action.
The ADGP has been at the centre of allegations related to several issues, including his alleged meeting with RSS leaders. However, the chief minister refrained from committing to any concrete actions.
Instead, he emphasised that action would only be considered upon receiving a comprehensive report from the DGP regarding the officer’s conduct.
This stance has led to criticism from LDF constituents, including the CPI. Political opponents and civil society groups argue that the government’s unwillingness to take action on “mere allegations” creates a precedent of leniency in cases involving high-ranking officials.
During the press conference, Vijayan’s refusal to comment on the alleged RSS meeting, stating, “Let the report come first,” added to the growing speculation surrounding the officer’s connections and the government’s potential reluctance to pursue the issue rigorously.
Another key issue addressed during the chief minister’s press briefing was the controversy surrounding his interview with The Hindu.
A remark about the Malappuram district, inserted erroneously in the published interview, led to widespread criticism, particularly from Muslim political and community leaders.
Vijayan categorically denied making the statement, and The Hindu has since issued a clarification, attributing the error to a public relations (PR) agency named Kaizzen.
However, contradictions between the chief minister’s version of events and The Hindu‘s rejoinder have left the controversy unresolved.
The newspaper claimed that the interview was arranged by the PR agency, while Vijayan stated that he believed the interview was requested directly by the news agency.
The chief minister named TD Subramanian, son of CPI(M) leader TK Devakumar, as the person who facilitated the interview, complicating the narrative further.
Adding to the confusion, the chief minister mentioned that a “third person” became involved in the interview process, later identified as a representative of the PR agency, Kaizzen.
This raised further questions about the agency’s involvement and its role in arranging the interview, especially given the chief minister’s assertion that neither he nor the state government has ever employed a PR agency.
“Neither I nor the government has engaged any PR agency,” Vijayan told reporters, distancing himself from Kaizzen and its representatives.
While the chief minister praised The Hindu for issuing a dignified clarification, questions remain about the role of Kaizzen and Subramanian.
Vijayan also refrained from specifying whether there would be further investigation into the agency’s involvement, leaving critics to speculate.
The chief minister stated that Kerala is yet to receive special financial assistance from the Union government to aid in the recovery from the devastating Wayanad landslides, despite repeated requests.
According to the chief minister, although routine funds from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) have been released, the state is pushing for additional emergency relief assistance to cover the substantial losses incurred during the disaster.
“While the Union government has sanctioned ₹145.6 crore as the second instalment of this year’s SDRF allocation, this is part of the standard procedure and not disaster-specific aid. The Kerala government had sought an additional ₹219.2 crore in emergency relief, but no such special assistance has been granted so far,” said the chief minister.
He then reiterated the Cabinet’s decision to urge the Union government to expedite the release of this much-needed support.
The Wayanad landslides, which have claimed numerous lives and displaced many families, have prompted the state government to focus on rehabilitation efforts.
In a compassionate move, the Cabinet approved a compensation package for children who lost their parents in the disaster. Six children who lost both parents will receive ₹10 lakh each, while eight children who lost one parent will receive ₹5 lakh each.
This financial aid will be provided by the Department of Women and Child Development.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet approved the construction of a model township to rehabilitate families affected by the Meppadi-Chooralmala landslides.
The proposed township will be built at Nedumpala Estate in Meppadi Panchayat and Elstone Estate in Kalpatta Municipality, areas deemed most suitable for the project. However, the acquisition of these lands involves legal complexities.
Vijayan said that the government sought expert legal advice — including from the Advocate General — and authorised the immediate possession of land under the Disaster Management Act of 2005 to avoid delays.
The first phase of rehabilitation will prioritise families who lost their homes and land in the disaster, followed by families from uninhabitable areas in the second phase.
The draft list of beneficiaries will be published by the Wayanad District Collector and the Revenue Department will oversee the finalisation of this list.
The government also announced special provisions for individuals deeply impacted by the disaster. Shruti, who tragically lost her entire family in the landslide and her fiance in an accident, will be offered a job by the state government.
Additionally, the family of Arjun, a Kozhikode resident who perished in a landslide in Shirur of Karnataka, will receive ₹7 lakh as compensation.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil)
