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The state of Kerala has been thrust into a political storm following reports of a meeting between Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) MR Ajith Kumar and senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Dattatreya Hosabale. This meeting, allegedly taking place in Thrissur in May of this year, has ignited a firestorm of criticism from both the Opposition Congress party and the Communist Party of India (CPI), a close ally of the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M).
The meeting, deemed “personal” by Ajith Kumar, a known associate of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, has been met with skepticism by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), which claims to lack concrete information about the ADGP's explanation. This lack of clarity has further fueled the controversy, prompting opposition parties and allies alike to demand answers about the nature of the meeting and its potential implications.
The controversy gained significant momentum after the ruling CPI(M) dismissed allegations from the Opposition, claiming that Ajith Kumar acted as a middleman between the Chief Minister and the RSS to influence the outcome of the Thrissur Pooram festival and secure a Lok Sabha poll victory for the BJP candidate. These allegations have been vehemently refuted by the CPI(M), further deepening the political divide.
Kerala’s Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan has accused Pinarayi Vijayan of deploying the ADGP to meet the RSS leader in an attempt to shield the Kerala government from potential investigations by central agencies. Satheesan went on to allege that an agreement was reached between both parties to solidify the BJP's presence in the state. The CPI, the second-largest coalition partner in the Left Democratic Front (LDF), has expressed serious concerns about the meeting, arguing that it has created a sense of doubt among the people. CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam demanded clarification on what information the ADGP may have shared with the RSS’ sub-organisation Vijnana Bharathi.
In response to the mounting controversy, state BJP President K Surendran questioned the significance of a policeman meeting a leader from an organization. He declared, “I fail to understand what’s the big issue being made here over a meeting of two people. The Congress leaders appear to have lost their bearings.” This sentiment was echoed by CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan, who asserted, “So what if the ADGP meets someone, what’s the CPI(M) in Kerala got to do with it?” CPI(M) politburo member MA Baby echoed these sentiments, stating that he had nothing further to add to Govindan’s statement.
The controversy surrounding the ADGP's meeting with the RSS leader has created a significant political rift in Kerala. With the Opposition raising serious accusations of political maneuvering and the ruling party dismissing these allegations as baseless, the situation remains highly charged. The nature of the meeting and its true purpose continue to be shrouded in ambiguity, leaving the public to grapple with conflicting narratives and unanswered questions.
Source: What is the controversy surrounding Kerala ADGP Ajith Kumar’s meeting with RSS leader?