CPI-M comes out in support of Kerala minister K T Jaleel, says ED being 'politically used'

Amid protests by opposition Congress and BJP in Kerala demanding resignation of Minister KT Jaleel on Saturday,a day after he was questioned by Enforcement Directorate, state CPI(M) came out in his support and flayed central ncy saying re were allegations that it was being "politically used".

party also said with violent protests across state, Opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front was trying to shift attention from Muslim League MLA M C Kammruddin's Rs 150 crore jewellery scam case.

Jaleel h appeared before Enforcement Directorate on Friday in connection with alleged FCRA violation in accepting consignments of Holy Quran brought from UAE through diplomatic channels and his statement was recorded.

" UDF is trying to shift attention from its MLA's multi-crore scam.Just because ED sought explanation from minister, Congress and BJP are seeking resignation of minister.

This just proved that Congress is B-team of BJP. same Congress h earlier alleged that BJP was politically using ED," a statement issued by CPI(M) state secretariat said. party also listed out instances in which Congress leers were grilled by ED in recent past. "Rajasthan transport minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas was questioned by ED for seven hours in August. Seems like Congress leership in Kerala is unaware of it.

bror of Rajasthan CM was raided recently," party said,ding that senior Congress leers P Chidambaram and D K Sivakumar were arrested by ED. It also said that Robert Vra was questioned 12 times and senior leer Ahmed Patel for 25 hours." Congress party which said ED was a political weapon has w turned into a B-team of BJP," CPI(M) said.

Left party said Kerala government h welcomed any probe into matter unlike some or states which h stopped investigation ncies. "However, it's odd that three probe ncies, Customs, NIA and ED, has t yet investigated controversial diplomatic bagg sender r receiver.

probe ncies have told court that gold was smuggled through diplomatic pass many times but still avoided sender and receiver from investigation purview," CPI(M) said. CPI(M) state secretariat, which met today, in a statement said it was"unnatural" that ED chief himself h revealed in Delhi on Friday that it h sought information from Jaleel.

"re is an allegation that ED is an ncy that is being politically used," it said. " ED has also a dubious distinction that it is an ncy that has been politically used by Centre," CPI(M) state secretariat said.

party also alleged that changes in customs department investigation team after it h questioned a coordinatingeditor of a BJP-alignedchannel has raised doubts.

" motive behind violent protests by Congress-BJP team is just to deviate attention from achievements of state government and from Jewellery scam of IUML MLA," party said.

Marxist party also described as "politically motivated" resignation demand by two opposition parties.

state witnessed widespre protests on Saturday as activists of Congress led UDF and BJP and ir youth wings, hit ro seeking Jaleel's immediate resignation.

minister h earlier mitted that consignment containing Holy Quran h been received from UAE Consulate in Thiruvananthapuram, which a top Customs official h referred to as "prima facie violation of FCRA" (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act).

minister's name h also figured in call list of Swapna Suresh, a key accused in case related to gold smuggling through diplomatic bagg dressed to UAE" consulate in Thiruvananthapuram. However, Jaleel h said calls were "strictly professional."

(Facebook im)