‘Why no action taken against those who stole Ayyappa’s idol? CM, party secretary owe a reply’

PARAVUR: Opposition leader V D Satheesan demanded the chief minister and the party secretary to clarify why disciplinary action was not taken against jailed CPM leaders, accused in criminal cases. The opposition leader was speaking to the media in Paravur. He pointed that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) appointed by the high court and the court have levelled extremely serious observations against these leaders.

There are serious allegations against these leaders for stealing the gold of Sabarimala Ayyappa. The allegations are that they smuggled Dwarapalaka idols of Ayyappa and sold it to a millionaire, and installed a fake copper idol in its place. While considering the bail pleas of the accused, the high court and the Supreme Court denied bail in very strict language. They are presently out only on the technicality of not filing a charge sheet. He added that it is a challenge to democracy for the party to protect individuals whom even the courts suspect of being involved in such big crimes.

'Why is the CPM protecting them? The leaders accused in such a robbery case are now sitting as district committee members. Is the CPM protecting them completely? Why no disciplinary action was taken against them? No matter which party, action will be taken against people involved in such cases immediately.

When any political party takes action against people involved in even trivial cases, why is the CPM protecting the accused who committed the serious crime of stealing the gold of Sabarimala idol? Is it because they are afraid that they will reveal the names of the remaining current and former ministers? Why is no action being taken against them.
What pressure is behind it, the chief minister and the party secretary have the responsibility to tell the people about this. In fact, the government and the party are providing complete protection to the people who committed the theft. They are supporting the thieves. How many days have they spent in jail? It is only that they did not go to accept the red garland. Everything else has been done. They have been consoled. Promised to be with them.

Why is nothing being done against people with such serious allegations? The chief minister is evading these questions. The chief minister should also answer these questions when he meets the media every day. The party secretary should also answer. That is a question raised by the people of Kerala. That question should be answered,’ added Satheesan.