Satheesan slams govt over Munambam dispute and IAS feud

Thiruvananthapuram: Opposition leader V D Satheesan lashed out at the state govt, accusing it of prolonging the Munambam land dispute to benefit sectarian forces, while also raising concerns over its handling of an ongoing conflict among IAS officers.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Satheesan voiced frustration with what he described as the govt's selective approach to law enforcement. He said while police conducted midnight raids on hotels where Congress women leaders were staying, allegedly in search of black money, they refrained from acting against BJP leaders Suresh Gopi and B Gopalakrishnan for their communal statements. Satheesan cited the recent distribution of pamphlets by BJP Minority Morcha in Chelakkara, intended to provoke religious discord. Despite clear signs of divisive intent, he said no legal action was taken.

Regarding the Munambam land dispute, Satheesan accused the govt of deliberately stalling a resolution, suggesting the issue could be resolved "in just 10 minutes" if there were political will. He claimed the govt was keeping the matter unresolved to allow communal forces to exploit it for political gain. He noted that Muslim organizations and IUML have clarified that the land is not Wakf property and that current residents hold rightful ownership. However, he said, the govt, along with the Waqf Board and the Waqf minister, continues to complicate the issue. Satheesan said this delay appears to be a calculated move to retain the issue as a political tool for the upcoming elections.

Satheesan also accused CPM of hypocrisy over the seaplane project, saying that in 2013, when the Oommen Chandy govt introduced a similar initiative, CPM leaders opposed it, citing threats to fishermen's livelihoods. Now, he pointed out, those same leaders are hailing the project, calling it a double standard.

Turning to the IAS feud, Satheesan raised suspicions that the controversy involving IAS officer N Prasanth was used to divert attention from a more serious case involving IAS officer K Gopalakrishnan, who created WhatsApp groups with communal undertones. He said when IAS officer Adeela Abdulla raised concerns about the creation of a "Mallu Muslim Officers" group within the bureaucracy, she was informed that the group was established under directives from higher authorities.

Satheesan accused the govt of failing to address growing divisions within the IAS cadre, suggesting it has lost control over both the bureaucracy and law enforcement, thus allowing sectarian forces to thrive. He warned that inaction on both the Munambam land dispute and the IAS controversy could have long-term consequences, emboldening those seeking to sow communal discord.