The recent decision of the Kerala government to recommend a judicial probe against the Central agencies has been flayed by the BJP leaders at the Centre.
While Home Minister Amit Shah termed it 'a bid by Kerala government to save its face', Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that it amounts to challenging the nation’s federal structure.
Kerala government on Friday decided to initiate a judicial probe against the Central agencies for allegedly trying to tarnish its image. The Kerala police also registered a case against Enforcement Directorate officials for allegedly pressuring the gold smuggling accused to give statements against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and some of his Cabinet colleagues.
Speaking at an election meeting in Kerala on Sunday, Amit Shah said that even the chief minister’s principal secretary was arrested in connection with the gold smuggling case and the Kerala government had no option other than to sack him. Hence, the probe was being initiated against Central agencies in a bid to save its face.
The defence minister, who was also in Kerala, said, “I came to know that the (smuggling) case is being probed by the ED and then a judicial commission has been appointed against the central agency. It’s very unfortunate. This means the state government is challenging the federal structure of the Constitution. This is 100% against the constitution.”
The gold scam relates to the seizure of about 30 kg gold worth Rs 14.82 crore from diplomatic baggage at Thiruvananthapuram International airport in July 2020.
Published 28 March 2021, 17:17 IST