Jaleel & Jayarajan becoming a liability for Pinarayi govt

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: For the third day running, there were intense protests across the state on Monday, with opposition UDF and BJP using 'fresh' evidence allegedly linking ministers K T Jaleel and E P Jayarajan to the gold smuggling and Life Mission cases to put the Pinarayi Vijayan government on the defensive. The LDF, on its part, accused the rival fronts of resorting to violence in the streets after failing to counter it politically.
The opposition parties have been staging protests against Jaleel after he appeared before the Enforcement Directorate on Friday in connection with the purported FCRA violations in getting non-permitted items, including hundreds of copies of Quran, past Customs using diplomatic channels. The parties have also been targeting Jayarajan over allegations against his son and wife in connection with the Life Mission scheme.
Muslim Youth League (MYL) state general secretary P K Firos said that minister Jaleel "is trying to save himself by using the Quran and believers as a cover”. Addressing a news conference, Firos said, "There is every possibility that more evidence will be destroyed as long as Jaleel continues as minister”.
Opponents spinning false stories: LDF
Police resorted to water cannons against activists of Mahila Morcha who tried to break the barricades and enter the Secretariat compound. Muslim Students’ Federation also took out a protest march to the Secretariat besides staging a blockade on the main road.
The KSU march to the secretariat turned violent, with police resorting to lathicharge and seven KSU workers -- including state president K M Abhijith -- were injured in the melee. Youth Congress workers also took out a march to the house of industries minister Jayarajan in Mattannur.
Jaleel, who reached Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday night, remained in his official residence till evening when he went out briefly to attend an interview in CPM-backed Kairali TV. Security has been beefed up around his official residence. Sources said he attended work from home and interacted with staff on official matters.
Jayarajan alleged that a section of media and political opponents were raising false allegations against him and his family. “My wife had gone to the locker of the bank to take ornaments of our grandchildren as their birthdays fall on September 25 and 27. She was not in quarantine when she visited the bank... My sons are also earning their livelihood by doing decent work," he said.
LDF convenor A Vijayaraghavan alleged that political opponents were spinning false stories against ministers and their family members. "In Kollam, BJP activists tried to harm Jaleel’s life when they tried to put a vehicle across the minister’s vehicle. The LDF wishes to remind them that it has the strength to protect its ministers and leaders,” he said.