Kerala Assembly witnesses war of words over alleged ‘political patronage’ to the drug mafia

He alleged that the ruling CPI(M) was trying to sabotage the investigation as its local leader, who is also its municipal councillor, was involved in the case.

Launching a scathing attack against the ruling front, Kuzhalnadan even alleged that a section of leaders of the Marxist party were climbing the steps of higher party posts through the influence of the money amassed by the drug mafia.

He further charged that several leaders of the CPI(M), SFI, and DYFI had been named as accused in drug cases in Kerala recently, but what the state witnessed was that the government was giving them support and protection.

“This motion is to expose the CPI(M)’s political patronage (to the drug mafia),” he told the House.

Evidence-based accusations?

Provoked by Kuzhalnadan’s remarks targetting the CPI(M) on the issue, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reminded the Congress MLA that there should be a limit for everything.

“Do you think that you can say any ridiculous thing here? The House cannot be made a platform to say anything against a party like CPI(M). There should be a limit for everything,” Vijayan warned Kuzhalnadan.

This prompted the Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, VD Satheesan, to intervene and say that the party legislator has raised charges against ruling party leaders with the support of ample evidence.

He urged the CPI(M) to stop giving alleged political patronage to the drug mafia and wanted the government to book the real powers behind the trading of narcotics in the state.

Satheesan also said that the Opposition would not support the government’s anti-drug campaign which, according to him, was just an eyewash.

Also Read: Kerala Assembly adjourns after ruckus over drug abuse in the state

Counter-arguments made

Rejecting the Opposition’s allegations, Excise Minister MB Rajesh said that there was no evidence to name the local party leader as an accused in the case of the seizure of banned tobacco products in Karunagappalli, Alappuzha.

The LDF government in the state would never interfere in any case or influence the investigators to protect the accused, the minister claimed.

“We can name a person accused in a case only if there is any evidence against him. No one can be made an accused because the Opposition and the media allege so,” Rajesh said, in his reply.

The police have already arrested the accused in the case and the investigation is ongoing, the minister added.

Based on the minister’s reply, the Speaker rejected leave for the motion, following which UDF members staged a walkout in the Assembly.

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