THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan heavily mocked the CPM leadership for alleging that the recent Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids on Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan were the result of a secret pact between the State and the Central governments.
The political slugfest erupted after several CPM leaders, including former ministers, insinuated that the ED raids across 12 locations—including the residences of Pinarayi Vijayan and his son-in-law Mohammed Riyas in the CMRL-Exalogic case—were orchestrated immediately after CM Satheesan met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi.
Dismissing the allegations with dripping sarcasm, Satheesan questioned the logic of the CPM leaders. "Chief Ministers who held this office before me have also met the Prime Minister officially; Pinarayi Vijayan himself has met him twice. Yet, they claim that during my very first meeting with Modi, I demanded an immediate raid on Pinarayi's house. And apparently, Modi instantly took out his phone and dialed the agencies," Satheesan quipped during a press briefing.
Adding to the mockery, he continued, "According to their narrative, since it was my first request, I told the PM that one location wasn't enough and demanded raids across 12 locations. And just like that, 12 places were raided! This is what former ministers are telling the media. Hearing this, I honestly don't know whether I should laugh or cry."
Satheesan had previously clarified that the State Government and the local police had absolutely no prior information regarding the ED's actions, emphasizing that the central agency was proceeding with a long-standing investigation mandated by the judiciary.