Gold smuggling case in Kerala being used to destabilize state govt: CPI(M)

CPI(M) has alleged that gold smuggling case in Kerala is being used by BJP and Congress-led UDF to destabilise LDF government in state and issue is being used to target Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

IAS officer M Sivasankar, sacked principal secretary of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, was earlier summoned by Customs as part of ongoing investigation into gold smuggling case where gold, weighing over 30 kg and valued at around Rs 15 crore, was seized.

National Investigation ncy (NIA) has been entrusted with probe into case by Centre.

" gold smuggling case in Kerala is being used by Congress-led UDF and BJP to tarnish im of LDF government and (is) a joint effort to destabilise government heed by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan," said latest editorial of CPI(M) mouthpiece People's Democracy published on Wednesday.

Congress and UDF have demanded resignation of chief minister and have launched a "struggle" to achieve same. BJP is also conducting protests with same demand. UDF h anunced that it will move a -confidence motion against government in assembly.

editorial says that smuggling of gold into Kerala from Gulf countries has been a regular occurrence over years and that re was a spurt in gold smuggling after COVID-19 pandemic, when flights resumed and re was an increase in chartered flights to state.

Around Rs 100 crore worth of gold was seized by Customs authorities in Kerala's three airports in past six months, editorial said.

But contraband gold sought to be smuggled in through Thiruvananthapuram airport on June 30 was significant for method opted and size of consignment – it was through diplomatic bagg and weighed 30 kilograms, it said.

" state police is t investigating authority r has it power to file cases in such matters. It falls in jurisdiction of Customs Department which is under Centre. state police can only have an ancillary role,¨ it said.

It said that as soon as ramifications of case became kwn, chief minister wrote to prime minister asking for an effective investigation by any of central ncies concerned, so that whole chain of smuggling operation from its source and end beneficiaries can be found out and brought to book.

" gold smuggling case is, thus, being used to make an all-out effort to target chief minister and LDF government. In doing so, Congress leership is even igring fact that one of accused, Sandeep Nair, has links with BJP. It is more intent on seeking to harness Modi government in its fight against LDF government.

" Congress kws very well that BJP government is misusing central ncies for its political purposes and hopes that y will do so in this case too," it said.

editorial also alleged that Congress party is proving its political and ideological bankruptcy in Kerala by opting a disruptive stance over issue.

"It has qualms whatsoever in ganging up with BJP to target Left. It is also a s commentary on state of party as a whole as recent events in Mhya Presh and Rajasthan show.

" BJP is going all-out to destabilise Congress state governments using money power and or unscrupulous methods. But Congress party riven by factions and power hungry leers is facilitating BJP's nefarious designs. In Kerala, this of politics and power games will be met with a stinging rebuff from people," it said.

(Photo Credit: PTI)