In a recent interview with The Hindu, Chief Minister Vijayan addressed allegations of secret meetings between police and RSS leaders, claiming Malappuram police seized 150 kg of gold and Rs 123 crore linked to anti-state activities.
Published Oct 03, 2024 | 11:00 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 03, 2024 | 2:03 PM
In response to the Chief Minister's denial, The Hindu issued a correction that further complicated the issue.
“Mallapuram (sic) is known for its intense criminal activity, especially with regards to animals. No action has ever been taken against a single poacher or wildlife killer, so they keep doing it. I can only suggest that you call/email and ask for action,” said former BJP MP and animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi, in a now-deleted tweet, four years ago.
She also claimed that Malappuram is the “most violent” region in the country, alleging that poison is spread on the roads, leading to the deaths of 300 to 400 birds and dogs at once, without referencing any media report to support this assertion.
On 5 June, 2020, Gandhi encountered significant backlash from the people of Kerala. The official website of People for Animals (PFA), an animal rights NGO established by BJP MP Maneka Gandhi, was hacked by a group of ‘ethical hackers.’
This action was a direct response to her comments regarding the Malappuram district, following the tragic incident involving a pregnant elephant in Kerala. The 15-year-old elephant had ingested a pineapple that was filled with powerful firecrackers, which detonated in its mouth while in the Silent Valley Forest, ultimately leading to its death in the Velliyar River in Palakkad district.
Prominent figures such as Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Virat Kohli, Sunil Chhetri, and Saina Nehwal voiced their opinions about the incident on social media.
Unfortunately, the repercussions and burden fell on Malappuram district at the national level, even though it was unrelated to this incident aside from its proximity to Palakkad, much like Thrissur.
Following the backlash over the death of a pregnant elephant, former CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan criticised comments from BJP national leaders, asserting they were intended to “target a specific religious community.”
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan supported this viewpoint, stating that “there is a coordinated effort to malign Kerala and Malappuram on a national scale.” He expressed disappointment that some individuals are taking advantage of this incident to tarnish the reputation of both the state and Malappuram specifically.
On June 5, 2020, amid rising controversy, Panakkad Munavarali Shihab Thangal, the state president of the Muslim Youth League, collaborated with Manikandan Embrathiri, the priest of the Thripuranthaka temple, to plant a tree on the temple premises.
This act, celebrated on World Environment Day, was intended as a powerful message of secularism in response to the former Union Minister’s remarks.
Now, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is embroiled in a public relations controversy following an interview with The Hindu, which ignited discussions about his position on gold smuggling and hawala transactions in Malappuram. Opposition leaders and Muslim organisations condemned his comments as divisive and Islamophobic.
In a recent interview published on 30 September by The Hindu, Chief Minister Vijayan responded to allegations of clandestine meetings between high-ranking police officials and RSS leaders. He claimed that over the past five years, the state police had confiscated 150 kg of gold and ₹123 crore in hawala money from Malappuram district, asserting that these funds were being funnelled into Kerala to support anti-state and anti-national activities.
This assertion linking gold smuggling in Malappuram to extremist groups has sparked criticism from the Muslim League and opposition figures, who are now demanding concrete evidence to support the Chief Minister’s claims regarding the misuse of funds for such activities.
As the controversy surrounding the interview escalated, the Chief Minister’s office released a press statement clarifying that the remarks attributed to him did not reflect his views or the official position of the state government. According to the statement, parts of the interview had been “misinterpreted,” and the Chief Minister denied making statements that had led to the ensuing debate.
In response to the Chief Minister’s denial, The Hindu issued a correction that further complicated the issue. The newspaper clarified that the interview had been arranged by a PR agency, Kaizzen, which had approached them with the offer to feature the Chief Minister.
According to media reports, the interview with Pinarayi Vijayan, which took place at Kerala House in New Delhi, was attended by two representatives from the PR agency. After the interview, one of the agency’s representatives allegedly suggested that details regarding gold smuggling and hawala transactions in Malappuram be included.
Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly VD Satheesan told South First, “This is a political narrative being spread by the Sangh Parivar at the national level. If the statement didn’t come from him, is the Chief Minister prepared to take legal action against the PR agency? Such a statement has the potential to ignite communal tensions in Kerala.”
The PR agency, Kaizzen, has chosen not to comment on the controversy surrounding the Malappuram remarks, indicating that the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) will provide further clarification.
Meanwhile, Minister Mohammed Riyas refrained from responding to media inquiries about the potential for legal action against The Hindu.
Youth Congress State Vice President Abin Varkey lodged a complaint with the State Police Chief, requesting that cases be filed against The Hindu newspaper and Kaizzen PR Agency for allegedly inciting violence.
Nishad Rawther, a senior journalist at Media One, told South First, “Yogi Adityanath warned the people of Uttar Pradesh, suggesting that if the BJP is not re-elected, the state could end up like West Bengal and Kerala. This narrative, promoted by the Sangh Parivar, deliberately portrays minority voices as a source of trouble for the country. It’s unfortunate that a responsible political party has found itself at the centre of such controversies in Kerala. However, I am confident that the people of Malappuram will handle these challenges with immense courage and resilience, as they always have.”
Muslim Youth League (MYL) state general secretary PK Firoz told South First that “The Chief Minister should file a case against the PR agency if he did not make the remark about Malappuram. Such statements have the potential to incite riots and can be used in the future against Malappuram. We are planning protests at all police headquarters across Kerala on 3 October and in front of the Assembly on 8 October.”
Firoz told South First, “Hate politics against Malappuram didn’t start yesterday or today—it began with the very formation of the district on June 16, 1969. At that time, the Sangh Parivar spread rumours that ships from Pakistan would dock in Malappuram, posing a threat to national security. More recently, Maneka Gandhi deliberately linked the tragic death of a pregnant elephant to Malappuram. The Sangh Parivar has consistently labelled Muslim-majority areas as hubs of anti-national activity. Unfortunately, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has added fuel to this narrative, further strengthening it.”
“Many people, especially students and young professionals working outside Kerala, have approached us with concerns about the discrimination they face when they mention they’re from Malappuram. They’ve reported that people outside Kerala ask why Malappuram is seen as a radicalised area. I’ve personally encountered this prejudice—during a press meet in Delhi, members of the press community directly asked me why people from Malappuram are allegedly involved in Islamic terrorism. This kind of labelling has become a big talking point outside Kerala, but only Keralites truly understand that these accusations are baseless,” he added
“In response, the Youth League has launched a social media campaign highlighting Malappuram’s rich heritage and its contributions to patriotic movements. However, as the saying goes, a lie can travel halfway around the world before the truth has even put its shoes on.'” Firoz stated.
Abdurahiman Randathani, former MLA of the Tanur constituency in Malappuram, told South First that the people of Malappuram, including the Muslim community and the Muslim League, have consistently stood against hate campaigns.
“There is no place for communal politics here,” he emphasised. According to Randathani, Malappuram’s representatives in both the Indian Parliament and the Kerala Assembly have been staunch advocates for all minorities, as seen in their strong opposition to issues like the Waqf Board controversy and the CAA protests. “Politically, this district is unbeatable, and this has led to attempts to fracture our unity by making communal remarks and falsely labeling the people of Malappuram as anti-nationals,” he said.
He also highlighted that, such statements from communist leaders are not new. “Even former Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan made inappropriate remarks when Malappuram’s pass percentage rose after the implementation of the Vijayabheri project,” Randathani pointed out.
The project, which started in the academic year 2001-02 under the Malappuram District Panchayat, aimed at improving the district’s educational standards. In its first year, the pass percentage in SSLC exams increased dramatically from 26% to 63%.
“However, Achuthanandan implied that the students might have engaged in exam malpractice, a remark that deeply offended the people of Malappuram. “The people of Malappuram possess a deep political awareness, and this land cannot be easily defeated,” Randathani concluded.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
