Thiruvananthapuram, February 4: The Kerala Assembly witnessed uproar for the third consecutive day on Wednesday, fueled by a heated debate between the ruling party and the opposition regarding the investigation into the alleged theft of gold at Sabarimala.
The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) accused the Pinarayi Vijayan government of hastily concluding the investigation ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. Opposition leader V.D. Satheesan spearheaded protests within the assembly, claiming that the investigation was being deliberately “stage-managed” to protect influential individuals.
Satheesan sharply criticized the Chief Minister’s remarks, which dismissed the assembly scuffles as a “joke.” He also demanded the removal of certain comments made against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra from the assembly proceedings.
In response, ministers M.B. Rajesh, P. Rajeev, and V. Shivan Kutty defended the government’s stance, accusing Congress of politicizing the issue. M.B. Rajesh rejected the call to remove comments from the record, asserting that no derogatory language had been used by the ruling party. Meanwhile, P. Rajeev questioned how the main accused in the case allegedly came into contact with senior Congress leaders, intensifying the debate within the house.
The ruling party also referenced photographs showing the alleged main accused, Unnikrishnan Potty, with national leaders. In retaliation, the opposition pointed out that similar images exist with leftist leaders, arguing that targeting one side reflects a double standard.
Frequent interruptions due to personal allegations and heated exchanges led to repeated disruptions in the assembly’s proceedings. The opposition maintained its protest, alleging serious flaws in the investigation, and ultimately staged a walkout, leading to the suspension of the day’s session.
According to official data, 13 individuals have been arrested in connection with this case. However, the Special Investigation Team (SIT), formed under the directives of the Kerala High Court, has failed to file a charge sheet within the stipulated 90 days, resulting in legal bail for three accused individuals.
The opposition contends that this delay strengthens its claim that the investigation is being deliberately undermined. Conversely, the government has clarified that the investigation is proceeding within the bounds of the law and under judicial oversight.