'These hands are clean'; Chief Minister lashes out at opposition

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Speaking during the zero hour of the Assembly on Thursday, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan lashed out at the opposition which has been attacking the government for seven months over diplomatic gold smuggling case. Claiming that his hands were "clean", Vijayan said the thought that he would be put behind bars in the case would only end up as a 'day-dream' of the opposition.

Despite the efforts by all investigating agencies, no evidence could be brought against the state government so far, he said. "The central agencies have politicised the matter which they are dealing with. That's why we have informed the Centre about this. As a state government, it is our responsibility," Vijayan said.

Defending Raveendran, who was recently quizzed by the Enforcement Directorate, he said his additional private secretary was asked to appear for questioning not in connection with the gold smuggling. "It was only to clarify certain matters on the basis of certain complaints," Vijayan said.

He also denied the charge that some of his relatives were questioned bycentral agencies. Irked over the question by Congress legislator, P T Thomas that whether gold smuggling case key accused Swapna Suresh had visited his official residence on the day before his daughter's marriage, a fuming Vijayan said the function was held in the sprawling hall at the Cliff House and she had not attended it.