Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly, Pinarayi Vijayan, broke his silence following an Enforcement Directorate raid at his residence, criticizing the Centre for using central agencies as political tools against non-BJP governments and opposition leaders. Vijayan, speaking after Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar’s address at the Kerala Legislative Assembly, expressed concern over the ED’s alleged misuse as a political weapon. He highlighted a trend of targeting BJP rivals nationally, beyond just Kerala.
Vijayan accused the Congress of backing ED actions selectively based on political expediency, alleging that the agency was being manipulated to target opponents. He emphasized that the escalating use of central investigative bodies against opposition figures contradicted the country’s democratic norms. While addressing the ongoing probe involving his daughter, Veena Vijayan, in a financial transactions case, Vijayan confirmed the freezing of one of her bank accounts.
The opposition leader refrained from delving into specifics of the investigation during the raid at his residence, stating that ED officials did not question him. Vijayan’s comments marked his initial political response to the ED’s actions, which have stirred significant political unrest in Kerala. By positioning the raid within a broader context of central agency misuse, Vijayan steered clear of detailed discussions on the allegations or evidence under scrutiny. However, his statements indicated a shift of the ED probe from a legal matter to a focal point in Kerala’s political landscape.
