CM made me a thief for telling truth: PV Anvar MLA

MALAPPURAM: PV Anvar MLA came down heavily on Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and reiterated the police connection in the gold smuggling case at his first political briefing in Nilambur. The huge crowd at the meeting organized by PV Anvar to make his stand clear to the people after his break-up with the CPM highlighted Anvar's public support. As the CPM intensified its boycott call, Anvar sarcastically said that only 50 chairs would be arranged for the meeting.

Responding to rumours about a new party, Anvar said that if the people of Kerala become one and become a party, he will be behind it and it is for the people to decide. Anvar said that he has a secular background and an attempt is being made to make him a Muslim communalist. "If one is religious, one does not become a communalist. The problem is that I said am a Muslim and I perform Salah five times a day," Anvar said, adding that the chief minister had portrayed him as a thief for exposing the police connection in the gold smuggling case.

"The chief minister had a father's place in my heart. I defended the allegations made by the opposition against the chief minister and the party in the last eight years in the assembly. How many enemies have I made? I held a press conference to put pressure on the party. I'm going to jail now. A case is being filed for creating evidence. I spent all my wealth on the party. All my financial resources were destroyed and caused me a crisis. It is a blatant lie that I rejected the party. Can it be proved that I said a word against the party?

Huge crowd

Anvar reached the venue as a demonstration with a large crowd from Chandakunnu. The ground near the Chandakunnu bus stand was full hours before the meeting began. Crowds gathered on top of nearby buildings. People came along the way to greet Anvar. The police brought the four-kilometre stretch of the road under control. Activists greeted Anvar with inquilab calls. TVs were set up to release the video footage but people trampled it to the ground in the stampede. Anvar said he would show the video later. EA Suku, former panchayat president of Vazhikkadavu, former member of CPM Edakkara area and former local committee secretary of Marutha gave welcome speech at the meeting. He said Anvar had a crucial role in the CPI winning power in the local bodies in Nilambur.