Probe against Pinarayi: CPM to mount political defence

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CPM has decided to politically explain the probe against Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan and former minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas to the public through pamphlets. The party is likely to raise the allegation of a BJP-UDF deal as part of its defence. The CPM state secretariat, which met on Tuesday, decided to take on the Crime Branch investigation politically. The party will reach out to people through house visits and other programmes to explain what it sees as the political motives behind the probe.

The party will allege that central agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate (ED), are targeting the CPM under the cover of the dispute between CMRL and the Income Tax Department. It will tell the public that the BJP is trying to weaken the CPM by implicating its leaders in cases and capture power in the next election. The CPM will also allege that the investigation was ordered to divert attention from allegations against the government. It will argue that the move is aimed at keeping several issues affecting people, including load-shedding, out of public discussion.

The party has also questioned why there is no investigation against two ministers who have admitted receiving money from CMRL. The CPM alleges that the state government is cooperating with what it describes as the Centre’s political targeting of the party. The party is also considering involving its allies in protests against the government’s decision to allow the investigation. However, the leadership is concerned about whether the CPI will extend its support.

The CPM plans to defend the investigation against Pinarayi and Riyas by comparing it with the SNC-Lavalin case. The party will point out that despite the CBI investigating Pinarayi Vijayan for more than 25 years in connection with the Lavalin case, the agency could not produce any evidence against him, according to the CPM. The party has alleged that the UDF government is now seeking to subject Pinarayi and Riyas to another politically motivated investigation.