Thrissur: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan while campaigning for the LDF candidate Pradeep in Chelakkara slammed both the Congress and the BJP for allegedly defaming Malappuram district. Meanwhile, the Chief minister justified his alleged derogatory remarks against the people of Malappuram.
“Malappuram district has the most recorded cases of gold smuggling and Hawala money. The reason for this is Karippur Airport. How is this a criticism against the district?” Pinarayi asked. “Criminal activities should not be used to deface a community. Sangh Parivar paints Malappuram in a bad light; Congress joined them. Congress is with those who call Malappuram ‘Mini Pakistan’,” he said.
In a veiled reference to VD Satheesan’s 2006 photo, the CM also said everybody knew who lit a lamp in front of RSS ideologue MS Golwalkar.
Why is there no communal violence in Kerala? Is it because there are no communal forces? The reason is our firm stance against communalism. That is the difference between the LDF and other fronts. Unfortunately, Congress also supports allies those who are communal in nature. Even the Muslim League does not have a strong non-communal stance,” the CM said.
Earlier in an interview of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan with ‘The Hindu’ in New Delhi, the CM spoke extensively regarding the gold being seized in the Karippur Airport located in Malappuram and the gold being used for anti-national activities including promoting terrorism. The interview followed a storm of controversy where Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan was accused of ‘targeting’ Malappuram and hence indirectly targeting the people of Malappuram.
The Congress and the Muslim league along with other Muslim groups had harshly criticized Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for ‘insulting’ the people of Malappuram by comparing them as ‘gold smugglers’ and those indulging in anti-national activities. Even though the CPM and the left-backed intellectuals tried to defend the Chief Minister, a large number of Muslim groups had raised serious concerns about the statements made by Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
