'I have not said anything that defames Malappuram district or any religious group': Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan

KOZHIKODE: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that what was published in the Hindu daily was what he did not say. "In connection with the gold smuggling case, I have not said anything that defames Malappuram district or any religious group. Talking about gold smuggling at Karipur airport is not against Malappuram," the CM said. "What is going on is false propaganda and my stand is that communal forces should be isolated," he said.

"Some people are fuming when gold smugglers are getting caught. When those involved in gold smuggling are caught, it is shown as something against Malappuram district. There is a move now to sabotage the system," the chief minister said, explaining the figures of the seizure of the gold. He said the mistake cannot be accepted in any way and the police action will continue strongly.

"The Hindu newspaper itself had corrected the mistake that was published. Even after the newspaper corrected its mistake, that incorrectly published part is being looked at and is being circulated," the chief minister said. He added that most hawala money seized was from Malappuram. The chief minister also criticized Nilambur MLA PV Anvar. The chief minister said that some people are fuming when gold smuggling gangs are caught and those with ulterior motives can go that route.

In an official statement, the newspaper said that the portion containing the chief minister's controversial remarks was written by the PR agency. A PR agency representative said the Malappuram remark was made by the chief minister at a press conference earlier. The Hindu newspaper said it regretted that what happened was not in line with media ethics.

Soon after the remarks stoked a controversy, the chief minister's press secretary had sent a letter to the daily. Hindu's response was in reply to this letter. The letter said what the chief minister did not say was twisted and given in the interview. There were wide protests from many quarters soon after the interview came out.