V.D. Satheesan Urges Kerala CM Vijayan to Resign
Click to start listening
Synopsis
On April 4, 2023, Kerala's Opposition Leader V.D. Satheesan demanded that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan resign after his daughter Veena became a key figure in a Serious Fraud Investigation Office charge sheet concerning illegal payments linked to mining sanctions.
Key Takeaways
- V.D. Satheesan calls for Pinarayi Vijayan to resign.
- Veena Vijayan implicated in SFIO charge sheet.
- Accusations involve Rs 2.70 crore in illegal payments.
- Comparison drawn to Pawan Kumar Bansal case.
- CPI-M's support for Vijayan may be tested.
Kochi, April 4 (NationPress) The Leader of Opposition in Kerala, V.D. Satheesan, stated on Friday that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan must resign due to his daughter Veena Vijayan being named in the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) charge sheet, which accuses her of accepting illegal payments amounting to Rs 2.70 crore from Kochi-based Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) related to mining permissions.
Veena is listed as the second accused in this SFIO charge sheet, which also includes CMRL, her company Exalogic, along with CMRL’s Managing Director, Sasidharan Kartha, and others.
This charge sheet has been submitted to a special court in Kochi that handles economic offences.
“Previously, you (Vijayan) faced pressure in the SNC Lavalin case and the notorious Kerala gold smuggling incident, but the circumstances are different this time. Your daughter has been caught red-handed taking money for nonexistent services, which is clearly bribery. Therefore, you must resign promptly,” Satheesan urged.
“During the UPA government, when allegations surfaced against a relative of then Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, the CPI-M's national leadership demanded his resignation. In this SFIO case, it is Vijayan’s daughter, not a distant relative, who is implicated under the PMLA Act. The CPI-M’s national leadership should adopt the same stance against Vijayan and demand his immediate resignation,” the Congress leader insisted.
“Recently, when the son of then CPI-M state Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan was arrested by the ED, the national leadership did not provide the same protective cover to Vijayan. Why the double standards? Balakrishnan resigned, while Vijayan has not... is it out of fear of Vijayan?” he questioned.
“The charge sheet clearly states that Veena received illegal gratification without providing any services. I ask, why is Veena receiving money for nothing when others are not? If this incident involved a leader from the Congress or another party, the CPI-M would be the first to demand political accountability and a resignation,” Satheesan commented.
The Congress party has called for a statewide protest demanding Vijayan’s resignation.
Even though the entire CPI-M leadership has publicly backed Vijayan, it remains uncertain how long this support will last as both the Congress and the BJP are intensifying pressure on him.
Meanwhile, the CPI-M's national leadership is considering filing a petition against this SFIO charge sheet due to the upcoming Nilambur Assembly by-election, local body elections later this year, and the Assembly elections scheduled for April/May next year. They would prefer to avoid having such a case looming over the party, which has a strong presence primarily in Kerala.
