'Cannot blame Tourism Department for bringing Jyoti Malhotra to Kerala'; VD Satheesan comes out in support of Riyas

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition leader V.D. Satheesan has come out in support of Minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas regarding the Kerala visit of vlogger Jyoti Malhotra, who was later arrested on charges of spying for Pakistan. Satheesan stated that the tourism department and the tourism minister cannot be blamed in this matter.

"I don't think the tourism department would have invited Jyoti Malhotra to Kerala if it had known that she was coming to the state for espionage. She came to the state as a vlogger. The tourism department or the tourism minister cannot be blamed for bringing a vlogger for promotion. It was not known at the time that she was involved in espionage. She was brought to Kerala with innocent intentions,” Satheesan said.

He added that if the CPM were in the opposition, they would have demanded the tourism minister’s resignation over this issue. “The opposition will not blame the government for unnecessary matters. However, the public health sector of Kerala is on a ventilator. The health minister is incapable of handling important matters. The opposition demands that she resign and step down,” Satheesan said.