Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday accused the Indian National Congress of protecting its recently-expelled MLA, Rahul Mamkootathil, from arrest. The Chief Minister affirmed that the police were taking effective steps to apprehend the legislator, who is facing sexual assault allegations from multiple women.
Speaking at a press meet, Vijayan also highlighted that there were other Congress legislators who faced similar allegations or had been jailed for other offences but were still continuing in the party. "Eldhose Kunnappilly and M Vincent are still in the party," he stated, noting that both Congress MLAs have also faced sexual assault accusations.
The Chief Minister’s remarks were a direct response to the Congress party’s contention that while it took disciplinary action against Mamkootathil, the CPI(M) had failed to take steps against its own leaders accused of irregularities in the Sabarimala gold plating case or against MLA M Mukesh, who is facing rape charges. The Congress had also claimed that the Left government was deliberately delaying Mamkoottathil's arrest to keep the issue alive during the upcoming local body polls.
Hitting back at the grand old party, the CM alleged it was the Congress that was shielding its expelled MLA from being arrested. Mamkootathil, who is accused of rape, was expelled from the primary membership of Congress on Thursday, shortly after a local court in Thiruvananthapuram dismissed his anticipatory bail plea.
Vijayan clarified that the CPI(M) had stated much earlier, and maintains its stand now, that it would not protect anyone involved in the Sabarimala gold loss issue. He expressed satisfaction with the probe being carried out into the alleged irregularities in Sabarimala by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) appointed by the Kerala High Court.
Regarding the Opposition UDF’s allegation that CPI(M) MP John Brittas "mediated" an "illicit" relationship between the Left party and the Bharatiya Janata Party, Vijayan said the legislator was only working in the interests of the state. He explained that prior to a Parliamentary session, a meeting of the state’s MPs is held, where they are asked to work together for the interests of Kerala.
"That is what Brittas did and was doing in an effective manner," he said, adding that "that is what the other MPs from the state also expected to do."
Earlier in the day, Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan had argued that the Congress claims of an illicit CPI(M)-BJP relationship were proved by the recent revelation that Brittas acted as an intermediary for the signing of the PM SHRI memorandum of understanding (MoU) by the state government. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan recently said that Brittas had "mediated" the signing of the Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) MoU.
Also read: Vijayan leads Kerala Cabinet’s 150 foreign trips in 4 years
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