CPI(M) hints that action against Padmakumar will hinge on Sabarimala case outcome

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] State committee connected Friday signalled that it was deferring, astatine slightest for now, immoderate disciplinary enactment against erstwhile Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president A. Padmakumar, who was arrested and remanded successful judicial custody successful the Sabarimala gold-plated copper sheet “misappropriation” lawsuit connected Thursday.

CPI(M) State caput M.V. Govindan told a property league that it was inherently erroneous to presume that Mr. Padmakumar’s indictment successful the lawsuit amounted to a judicial validation of guilt.

Mr. Govindan added that the “trajectory of the investigation” and the result of the lawsuit would find the CPI(M)'s people of action. When asked wherefore the yardstick did not use to CPI(M) person and erstwhile Kannur territory panchayat president P.P. Divya, whom the constabulary had arrested and remanded successful judicial custody successful October connected the complaint of abetting the termination of Additional District Magistrate Naveen Babu, Mr. Govindan said: “It is incorrect to gully an analogy betwixt 2 cases of starkly antithetic nature. The enactment had taken the close stance astatine the time.” (The CPI(M) had asked Ms. Divya to measurement down from the station of territory panchayat president and downgraded her from the territory committee to the subdivision committee.)

Mr. Govindan refused to speculate astir the anticipation of bringing the erstwhile and serving Devaswom Board Ministers nether the ambit of the Sabarimala investigation.

Nevertheless, helium stated that the CPI(M) would not shield those “who person misplaced the spot the Left Democratic Front (LDF) authorities pinned connected them portion entrusting them with cardinal responsibilities, including holding precocious nationalist office."

‘No dichotomy'

Mr. Govindan besides ruled retired immoderate dichotomy betwixt the CPI(M)'s request for the resignation of Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, who is facing accusations of serial intersexual misconduct sans immoderate constabulary case, and the party’s stated presumption that lone the tribunal could deem a idiosyncratic blameworthy oregon guiltless of a suspected felony. 

“The nationalist outrage against Mr. Mamkootathil has metastasised into a people’s movement, with his chap Congress members joining the chorus for his resignation. In his case, adjacent resignation is not enough,” helium quipped.

Mr. Govindan said the propaganda that Mr. Padmakumar’s apprehension and the unfolding SIT probe had landed the CPI(M) successful a situation successful the important predetermination twelvemonth was a chimaera conjured up by the media.

He dismissed right-wing activistic Rahul Easwar’s connection that Mr. Padmakumar had backed the anti-government “Save Sabarimala” run successful 2018 and had promised fiscal support, calling it a “belated” accusation with scarce modern relevance.