Thiruvananthapuram: BJP leader V. Muraleedharan, former Union Minister, has criticised Kerala's ruling CPI(M) party for showing solidarity with Palestine while neglecting the struggles of Munambam residents, calling it "religious vote bank appeasement politics". Muraleedharan argues the CPI(M) selectively supports certain groups for electoral gains.
Muraleedharan also called for Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's resignation, citing a Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) chargesheet against the CM's daughter, Veena T, in an "illegal payment" scandal.
Speaking to reporters at a press conference here, the former Union Minister of State said that CPI(M) leaders were seen wearing the 'keffiyeh' at the party Congress in Madurai (Tamil Nadu), as a show of solidarity with the people of Palestine.
"But they are unconcerned with the problems of a community in Kerala which is facing the threat of eviction from their properties," he said, citing the Munambam issue.
He alleged that the CPI(M) was not concerned about any community and was misleading people in its greed to remain in power.
The BJP leader said that neither the CPI(M) nor the Congress, both of whom are members of the INDIA bloc, "can fool the people for long".
He pointed out that CPI(M) Politburo member M A Baby accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of ignoring Palestine, despite Modi meeting with the Palestinian president in September 2022 and India's ongoing efforts to support Palestine's UN membership bid.
BJP leader V. Muraleedharan, during a press conference, called for Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's resignation, citing allegations against Vijayan's daughter in an illegal payment scandal. The Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) is probing the matter, which involves a mining company. Muraleedharan questioned the CPI(M)'s defence that the SFIO's move is "politically motivated", pointing out that attempts were made to stall the probe by approaching high courts in Kerala, Karnataka, and Delhi.
He further questioned whether anyone at the party Congress in Madurai "has the backbone" to demand the resignation of the Kerala CM.
"He should resign now on moral grounds, else people will later throw him out if he continues to hang on to his office," Muraleedharan added.
The Kerala High Court dismissed Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan's plea for a vigilance probe against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, citing insufficient evidence. The plea alleged suspicious financial transactions between Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) and Veena's IT firm, Exalogic.
The High Court had dismissed the plea, saying that the MLA "failed" to place before the vigilance court the facts constituting the offence of corruption alleged by him against the CM, his daughter and her IT firm.
According to the reports, the SFIO investigation has uncovered a Rs 182 crore financial fraud within the mining company, in which several others are also accused.
It stated that the fraud was carried out by inflating non-existent expenses and creating fake bills.
(inputs from PTI)