Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Tuesday questioned what action has been taken by the ruling Left government or Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who holds the reins of power, against the groups that smuggle gold into the state and use money from it for "anti-national activities."
SAYS CM KNOWS ALL
"It was after reading what Vijayan told a newspaper that I came to know about this development," said Khan. The CM, however, has access to all the information about it.
"He should come forward and tell us what action has been taken by the government against the gold smugglers who have indulged in anti-national activities.".
"He is holding the reins of power. He cannot just talk to the press and take no action. Why has no action been taken? Whose fault is it if action is not being taken? It is a serious matter. I have read about it only today," the Governor told reporters here.
He further said that when he returns to Thiruvananthapuram, he will seek a report from the government on the issue.
"I would like to know what action has been taken by the government and since when did they know that gold is being smuggled and the money is being used for anti-national activities? Is it something recent? Did they receive information about it now or did they know about it for a long time? If they knew for a long time, then what action was taken?" he asked.
His comments came in the wake of an interview given by Vijayan to an English daily in which he had alleged that money from gold smuggling through Karipur International Airport in Malappuram district and hawala transactions was used for "anti-state" and "anti-national activities."
The Congress and its ally, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), had lashed out at Vijayan over his remarks saying people of Malappuram were being targeted to settle his scores with Nilambur MLA P V Anvar. Nilambur constituency is in Malappuram district.
Invar, the Left-backed candidate, has been on a tussle with CPI(M) and Chief Minister Vijayan for weeks over different issues that has led to the Communist party rethinking its support to Anvar.
The MLA from Nilambur has allegedly accused ADGP (Law and Order) M R Ajithkumar and other high ranked police officials of accepting gold smuggled from abroad without proper procedure.
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