Thiruvananthapuram: A day after the Opposition was mocked for missing the chance to discuss the PR controversy during an adjournment motion, the Congress-led UDF made a strong comeback with a heated debate on the ADGP Ajith Kumar-RSS meeting. Though the debate was on the controversial meeting, most of the time was utilised for discussing the Chief Minister's alleged Malappuram remarks.

Incidentally, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who shook up the Congress with a scorn-filled slight at the Opposition leader and his readiness to face an adjournment motion, excused himself from the adjournment motion over the ADGP-RSS meeting on Tuesday because he was nursing a throat infection and needed voice rest.

“The Chief Minister has a severe throat infection, and the doctor has recommended complete voice rest. Minister MB Rajesh will answer questions on his behalf,” the Speaker said. The CM was present in the first half of the assembly session.

IUML MLA N Shamsudheen couldn't miss the timing. He wondered if Pinarayi's illness on such a significant day was an unfortunate coincidence. Speaker Shamseer quickly tackled the remark, calling it inappropriate to mock someone unwell.

All about Malappuram
While the LDF tried to discredit the Congress' concern about Malappuram by saying that the party opposed the formation of the district in the first place, the UDF was firm in its resolve to establish that the CM's alleged remarks were no accident.

“The Malappuram remarks were clearly included in The Hindu's interview at the request of the CMO. The CM is now trying to attack minorities, and his comments on Malappuram are proof of this,” Shamsudheen said. He also questioned why the Chief Minister, known for his "kadakku purathu" (get out) remarks, didn’t ask a stranger who entered his room during an interview in Delhi to leave. “The Chief Minister said he would stop gold smuggling in Malappuram, but LDF MLA’s claim that Ajith Kumar leads these activities raises the question —who exactly is he planning to stop?” Shamsudheen said.

The Opposition leader was also quick to point out that the news on the gold seized in Malappuram and its alleged links to anti-national activities appeared in the news on three separate dates in September. “The same narrative which was issued by the CPM was used in all three instances with a small variation in the time period,”  Satheesan said.

"The Congress, which is creating a ruckus about Malappuram remarks, opposed the formation of the district once. The Congress tied up with Jana Sangh which once asked 'why do we need a little Pakistan?' during the formation of Malappuram," LDF-backed independent MLA KT Jaleel said.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister MB Rajesh, defended Jaleel's point. “Your efforts to dub us an anti-Malappuram party will not work. The district was formed during the EMS government's time. Congress leaders Aryadan Muhammed and MP Gangadharan were part of a protest march against the district's formation. The League is now aligning with that Congress to blame us. AB Vajpayee once inaugurated a convention against the district's formation. The convention was organised by Kelappan,” he said.

Delayed action against ADGP
“Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan refused to act against the ADGP because Ajith Kumar went to the meeting at his behest,” Shamsudheen alleged. Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan also questioned the delay in action against the ADGP, despite the Chief Minister having known about the RSS meeting a year ago.

“Why was the action delayed until the eve of the assembly session? And why wasn’t the reason for the transfer mentioned in the order?” Kuzhalnadan asked. He went on to say, “Ordinary comrades are wondering why the CPM is grovelling before the RSS. It’s because the central agency investigated Pinarayi Vijayan's daughter. Why did EP Jayarajan meet with Prakash Javadekar?” The Opposition Leader, meanwhile, dubbed the action against ADGP as a mere “routine transfer from an official handling RSS affairs to the armed battalion.”

Kuzhalnadan and Shamsudheen also alleged that BJP President K Surendran was acquitted in the Manjeswaram bribery case due to the leniency of the Home Department. “BJP President K Surendran was allowed to walk free due to delays caused by the police, showing the government's links with the RSS,” Shamsudheen added.

Minister Rajesh's initial rebuttal at the ADGP-RSS meeting, however, backfired. Rajesh stated that the ADGP had met with RSS leaders during a routine courtesy call. This prompted the Opposition Leader to quickly question how the minister had access to details from the ADGP's confidential statement to the DGP. “This shows the government is trying to influence the probe,” Satheesan chimed in. The Minister then sought to gain an advantage by referencing historical instances where the Congress had allegedly misused bureaucrats to serve its political agenda.