Keralam Chief Minister VD Satheesan has confirmed receiving a formal request from Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan, urging the withdrawal of police cases relating to individuals who demonstrated solidarity with student protests at Jantar Mantar. In remarks made to the press, CM Satheesan indicated that the matter is currently under consideration by the relevant authorities. He stated, “The Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan had sent a letter to the Chief Minister requesting the withdrawal of all cases registered in Keralam in connection with expressing solidarity with the students’ protest at Jantar Mantar.” He further noted that the request has been directed to the Home Minister for appropriate action.

Condemnation of Misinformation on Waqf Board

In addition to addressing the police cases, CM Satheesan took the opportunity to criticise Pinarayi Vijayan for allegedly disseminating misinformation regarding the state government’s position on the Waqf Board in the High Court. The Chief Minister contended that Vijayan falsely claimed that the government supported the appointment of non-Muslim members to the board. “What the government actually conveyed to the High Court was a request to dismiss the current case,” Satheesan clarified. He emphasised that the Waqf Board established during Vijayan’s tenure as Chief Minister was primarily involved in proceedings that moved to the Supreme Court.

Further, Satheesan accused the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government of proposing the inclusion of non-Muslim members to the Waqf Board. He remarked, “The Waqf Board appointed by the LDF government represented to the Supreme Court that it would reconstitute the Board by including two additional non-Muslim members.” He indicated that following the conclusion of its term, the board was not reconstituted until after new amendments became effective, attributing ongoing complications to this delay.

Introduction of Administrative Reforms

During his address, CM Satheesan outlined a series of significant Cabinet decisions, proposing a five-point strategy aimed at modernising governance while addressing financial losses incurred due to project delays. He stated, “The Cabinet has made important decisions as part of administrative reforms,” and elaborated on the necessity of these measures to mitigate expenses faced by the state treasury. The key points include the establishment of a Special Asset Management Platform, a comprehensive registry of government institutions, and a review of outdated regulations.

Satheesan also remarked on the need to enhance both the ease of living for citizens and the ease of doing business in Keralam, ensuring that the proposed changes will significantly progress administrative efficiency. He confirmed that these decisions arose from a recognition of the financial burden posed by delayed project implementations.

On the topic of the Labour Code, the Chief Minister announced plans to engage with trade unions to discuss necessary reforms. He acknowledged the controversy surrounding the law, underscoring that other states have already enacted similar codes and noting that a failure to implement it could lead to a lapse in labour protections. “Discussions will include addressing opposition to certain aspects of the Labour Code,” he added.

Clarifications on Suspension of ADGP and Media Criticism

In response to the suspension of Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) MR Ajith Kumar, CM Satheesan defended the timeline and actions of the government, countering allegations of protecting the officer. He stated that the administration acted after thoroughly understanding the situation and clarified, “Based on the initial report, officials were suspended, and action was taken promptly following further investigations.” He asserted that the allegations of protective measures from the government were unfounded.

Furthermore, the Chief Minister responded to accusations of making “anti-woman” remarks during a recent speech. He questioned the media coverage, asking if reporters had reviewed the visuals from his address before arriving at conclusions. “There are many other issues about which I can be critiqued,” he concluded, expressing frustration at the media focus on the controversy surrounding his statements.

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