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The revelation of a meeting between ADGP M R Ajith Kumar and RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale in May 2023 has ignited a political firestorm in Kerala. The meeting, which reportedly occurred at a hotel in Thrissur, has fueled allegations of a possible collusion between the state's police leadership and the right-wing organization, potentially impacting the recent Thrissur Pooram festival and elections.
According to reports, Ajith Kumar, in his explanation to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, described the meeting as a purely personal one. However, details of the meeting emerged after opposition leader V D Satheesan brought it to the public's attention. Satheesan alleges that the meeting was a strategic maneuver to disrupt the Thrissur Pooram festivities, a significant Hindu festival, to benefit the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. This allegation is further reinforced by the revelation that Ajith Kumar also met with RSS leader Ram Madhav at a hotel in Kovalam in December 2023. These meetings, coupled with the reported involvement of a Vijnana Bharati leader, a feeder organization of RSS, have raised serious questions about the nature of Ajith Kumar's relationship with the RSS leadership and its potential implications for the state's political landscape.
The special branch of the Kerala police, responsible for intelligence gathering, reportedly filed a report on the meeting in May 2023. This report revealed that Ajith Kumar arrived at the hotel in a car used by the Vijnana Bharati leader, indicating a connection beyond a casual personal meeting. The special branch, however, could not confirm who Ajith Kumar met at the hotel in Thrissur.
The opposition's accusations have centered around the alleged disruption of the Thrissur Pooram, suggesting that Ajith Kumar's meeting with Hosabale was aimed at forging a political understanding between the BJP and CPM. The opposition argues that this understanding was intended to benefit the BJP in the elections, potentially by creating a sense of Hindu unrest during the festival. The government, however, has maintained silence on the matter, adding to the intrigue surrounding the meetings and the potential political implications.
The revelation of these meetings has put the spotlight on the relationship between the state police and the RSS, highlighting potential political motivations and influencing factors in recent events. The opposition's claims and the government's silence leave a sense of ambiguity, raising crucial questions about the transparency of the state's police force and its role in political matters. This controversy is likely to continue to dominate the political discourse in Kerala, demanding further investigation and clarification to ensure public trust and accountability.
Source: ADGP: ADGP ‘admits’ to meeting RSS gen secy Hosabale in Thrissur