Thrissur: Leader of the Opposition in Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, on Saturday mounted a strong defence of his daughter Veena Vijayan and himself, saying he was fully confident that neither he nor any member of his family had been involved in hawala transactions.
His remarks came at his first press conference after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) early this week issued a statement alleging hawala transactions in connection with its probe involving Veena.
“I am fully confident that none from my family, including me, has been involved in any sort of hawala transactions,” Vijayan said, raising both hands to stress his assertion that his hands are clean.
Vijayan accused attempts to drag his name into the ED proceedings of being politically motivated.
He questioned the ED’s decision to issue a public press statement in the case, particularly its reference to him as “P. Vijayan, former Chief Minister”.
“Normally, in such cases, such press statements are not put out. They are put on their website. Why was my name mentioned in this manner?” he asked.
According to Vijayan, the reference to him was intended to create an impression that he was also linked to the allegations.
“It was done to see how my name could also be included,” he said.
The LoP recalled that he had faced a CBI probe in 1996, when a person had appeared before the agency claiming that he had given him Rs 1 crore or Rs 2 crore, allegedly because he expected Vijayan to become the next Electricity Minister.
The former CM said he had fully cooperated with the investigation and was subsequently cleared.
“Now a few people are behind us, trying to see how they can trap us,” he alleged.
Defending Veena, Vijayan said she had cooperated with the investigation from the beginning and would continue to do so.
“Veena has cooperated with the probe right from the start and will do the same,” he said.
The LoP stressed that he had nothing against the investigating agency itself, but said the fact that Veena was his daughter had brought a different dimension to the issue.
Vijayan also accused Malayala Manorama media organisation of repeatedly targeting him and manufacturing news.
He alleged that baseless reports were being published against him and questioned how long such a campaign could continue.
“If it is against Pinarayi Vijayan, then they feel anything can be written,” he said, alleging a deliberate effort to create controversy around him and his family.
Vijayan’s remarks mark his first direct response to the ED’s latest public statement and are expected to intensify the political battle over the agency’s findings and the allegations surrounding his daughter.
(IANS)
