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Doubt if MLA Jaleel’s PoK statement was with knowledge of Pinarayi Vijayan: Congress

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 13 (IANS) A day after CPI-M backed independent MLA and former Kerala Minister K.T. Jaleel courted controversy by calling Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) “Azad Kashmir”, the Congress on Saturday expressed doubts whether the remark was made with the knowledge of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.Terming the remark “unacceptable”, Leader of Opposition V.D.Satheesan told the media that a true Indian will never make such a statement.”His statement is ‘pro-Pakistan’ and doubts are being raised if this was made with the knowledge of Pinarayi Vijayan,” said Satheesan.Jaleel was the State Higher Education Minister in the first Vijayan government from 2016-21, but though he won in the April 2021 Assembly polls, he was not made a minister.He represents the Thavanur Assembly seat in Malappuram district and ran into trouble over his PoK Facebook post in Malayalam after a recent visit to Srinagar.”The part of Kashmir annexed to Pakistan was known as ‘Azad Kashmir’. It was an area not directly influenced by the Pakistani government. Pakistan only controlled currency and military aid. Azad Kashmir had its own army. The unified army became the common army of Azad Kashmir during Zia ul Haq’s presidency,” his post read.With regards to Jammu and Kashmir, he wrote: “India-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, which comprises Jammu, Kashmir valley and Ladakh”.Jaleel said Kashmir’s face was not bright enough. Gun-toting soldiers everywhere. Policemen also have guns slung over their shoulders. Olive green (of the Army) is the colour of Kashmir for decades. Armed soldiers can be seen every hundred metres along there was sadness on the faces of the common people. It seems that Kashmiris have forgotten to laugh. Army trucks and military presence seem to be a part of daily life for Kashmiris,” he wrote.Meanwhile, top CPI-M leader and second-in-command in the Vijayan cabinet- M.V.Govindan said the CPI-M has a clear stand on this.”We never make such remarks and Jaleel has to explain what he meant,” said Govindan.Meanwhile, Kerala BJP president K. Surendran said he has no right to continue as a legislator as his statement on PoK as Azad Kashmir is against the country’s sovereignty and should be booked for sedition.”We can expect only such statements from a former SIMI (Students Islamic Movement of India) leader,” added Surendran.Incidentally, Jaleel began as an activist of SIMI and became a firebrand leader of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), but owing to differences, in 2006, he quit the IUML and joined hands with the CPI-M.He turned into a giant killer when at the 2006 Assembly polls as a Left independent candidate he trounced IUML veteran and one of its tallest leaders- P.K.Kunhalikutty and since then he won three consecutive elections.At the fag end of his Ministership in 2016, he had to quit following an adverse remark from the Lok Ayukta, but it came after the voting was done and hence it did not do any damage to his fourth straight win.Following the gold smuggling case in 2020, he was asked to appear before central agencies and the prime accused in the case Swapna Suresh said that he has conducted numerous protocol violations.–IANSsg/shb/

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Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 13 (IANS) A day after CPI-M backed independent MLA and former Kerala Minister K.T. Jaleel courted controversy by calling Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) “Azad Kashmir”, the Congress on Saturday expressed doubts whether the remark was made with the knowledge of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Terming the remark “unacceptable”, Leader of Opposition V.D.Satheesan told the media that a true Indian will never make such a statement.

“His statement is ‘pro-Pakistan’ and doubts are being raised if this was made with the knowledge of Pinarayi Vijayan,” said Satheesan.

Jaleel was the State Higher Education Minister in the first Vijayan government from 2016-21, but though he won in the April 2021 Assembly polls, he was not made a minister.

He represents the Thavanur Assembly seat in Malappuram district and ran into trouble over his PoK Facebook post in Malayalam after a recent visit to Srinagar.

“The part of Kashmir annexed to Pakistan was known as ‘Azad Kashmir’. It was an area not directly influenced by the Pakistani government. Pakistan only controlled currency and military aid. Azad Kashmir had its own army. The unified army became the common army of Azad Kashmir during Zia ul Haq’s presidency,” his post read.

With regards to Jammu and Kashmir, he wrote: “India-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, which comprises Jammu, Kashmir valley and Ladakh”.

Jaleel said Kashmir’s face was not bright enough. Gun-toting soldiers everywhere. Policemen also have guns slung over their shoulders. Olive green (of the Army) is the colour of Kashmir for decades. Armed soldiers can be seen every hundred metres along there was sadness on the faces of the common people. It seems that Kashmiris have forgotten to laugh. Army trucks and military presence seem to be a part of daily life for Kashmiris,” he wrote.

Meanwhile, top CPI-M leader and second-in-command in the Vijayan cabinet- M.V.Govindan said the CPI-M has a clear stand on this.

“We never make such remarks and Jaleel has to explain what he meant,” said Govindan.

Meanwhile, Kerala BJP president K. Surendran said he has no right to continue as a legislator as his statement on PoK as Azad Kashmir is against the country’s sovereignty and should be booked for sedition.

“We can expect only such statements from a former SIMI (Students Islamic Movement of India) leader,” added Surendran.

Incidentally, Jaleel began as an activist of SIMI and became a firebrand leader of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), but owing to differences, in 2006, he quit the IUML and joined hands with the CPI-M.

He turned into a giant killer when at the 2006 Assembly polls as a Left independent candidate he trounced IUML veteran and one of its tallest leaders- P.K.Kunhalikutty and since then he won three consecutive elections.

At the fag end of his Ministership in 2016, he had to quit following an adverse remark from the Lok Ayukta, but it came after the voting was done and hence it did not do any damage to his fourth straight win.

Following the gold smuggling case in 2020, he was asked to appear before central agencies and the prime accused in the case Swapna Suresh said that he has conducted numerous protocol violations.

–IANS
sg/shb/

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