Police, Central agencies targeting Left in Keralam: T.P. Ramakrishnan

Left Democratic Front (LDF) convener T.P. Ramakrishnan has alleged that the police machinery and Central agencies are being used to hunt down political opponents in Keralam. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, he said attacks on media freedom are unacceptable and demanded that the government reconsider its stance.

“Ever since the UDF government has come to power in Kerala, the police machinery has been deployed to hunt down political opponents. Central government agencies are hovering around Kerala. These agencies and the UDF government share the intent to dismantle the Left forces in Keralam,” he said.

Criticising the raid on the Reporter TV office, he said it was carried out without following any legal procedures. “The raid began at 6 a.m., whereas the First Information Report (FIR) was registered only at 9.45 a.m. Such actions against a media institution have no place in a democratic system and lack genuine intent.

This kind of targeted harassment, which affects independent journalism, can in no way be justified,” he said. Mr. Ramakrishnan also raised concern over the ‘double standard’ in investigations and issues related to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).

When an individual handling social media for the CMO was accused in a drug case, the investigation itself was stalled, he said. Citing ED procedures against Mr. Vijayan’s daughter T. Veena, over alleged pay-outs received by her now-defunct company from another, he said this is not viewed as a mere financial dispute between companies, but is part of a politically motivated crackdown.

“This is part of a move to destroy the CPI(M) and the Left through Mr. Vijayan. That is why we are opposing it. Otherwise, if it was a financial dispute between companies or action based on that, we would not have intervened,” he said.