Kerala govt trying to paralyse SIT probe in Sabarimala gold loss cases: Congress
Kochi/Kannur (PTI): Congress General Secretary K C Venugopal on Saturday alleged that the Kerala government was exerting pressure on the SIT probing the loss of gold from Sabarimala in an attempt to "paralyse" the investigation.
Venugopal, speaking to reporters at Kochi, further alleged that the government was trying to prevent any further progress in the probe by the Special Investigation Team (SIT).
On being asked by reporters about photographs of UDF convener Adoor Prakash meeting Unnikrishnan Potty, the prime accused in the Sabarimala gold loss cases, the Congress MP from Alappuzha said that there were photos of the CM with the same person.
"Congress is not investigating the cases. The police under Pinarayi Vijayan are. So, when examining photographs, they can examine the CM's photo with him as well.
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"Anyways, our strong and clear stand is that those who stole Lord Ayyappa's gold will not be spared by the Deity or the people of Kerala. God is watching everything," he said.
Meanwhile, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Sunny Joseph alleged that the SIT was not looking into the aspect of recovering the lost gold as directed by the Kerala High Court recently.
He also alleged that the CPI(M) was continuing to protect its leaders involved in the gold loss cases and said that protests will be held against that on January 27 at the state secretariat and all District Collectorates, demanding a proper probe in the matter.
Regarding Prakash's meeting with Potty, Joseph said that the UDF convener was never in a position to help those behind the alleged misappropriation of gold from the Lord Ayyappa shrine.
There is nothing wrong with Prakash taking a photo with Potty, he told reporters in Kannur.
The KPCC chief further said that the SIT has not questioned Prakash, like it did former Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran, as there was nothing to be found against him.
The Sabarimala gold loss cases pertain to the alleged misappropriation of gold from the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols and the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) door frames at the temple.
The SIT probing the matter has so far arrested 12 individuals, including Potty and two former presidents of the TDB.
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Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah accuses EC of ‘bias’, defends state guarantee schemes ahead of bypolls
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has accused the EC of "double standards" and "bias" after it sought details on the state’s guarantee schemes in Davanagere and Bagalkot districts, where bypolls are scheduled for Thursday.
In a post on 'X' on Wednesday, Siddaramaiah said the Election Commission of India had asked the Karnataka government for information on fund releases under five ongoing guarantee schemes in the constituencies going to polls.
The polls were necessitated following the deaths of senior Congress MLAs Shamanur Shivashankarappa and H Y Meti, respectively.
The schemes are Gruha Jyothi, which provides 200 units of free electricity to every household; Gruha Lakshmi, offering Rs 2,000 to women heading families; and Anna Bhagya, supplying 10 kg of rice per month to each member of BPL families.
In addition, Yuva Nidhi grants Rs 3,000 to unemployed graduates and Rs 1,500 to unemployed diploma holders aged 18–25 for two years, while Shakti enables women to travel free of charge within Karnataka on government non-luxury buses.
Siddaramaiah alleged that the ECI had remained silent when similar cash transfer schemes were announced in Maharashtra and Bihar ahead of elections, calling the scrutiny of Karnataka’s schemes a "clear case of bias".
"In states like Maharashtra and Bihar, cash transfer schemes were announced or fast-tracked just before elections, directly benefiting voters. Yet the ECI remained silent. This is not neutrality—it is complicity," he said.
The CM accused the BJP and NDA governments of "a double standard", noting that when they act, the ECI "looks the other way", but when Karnataka fulfils its promises, it faces "intense scrutiny".
He added that targeting the state’s guarantee schemes is "not just political but anti-poor, anti-women, and anti-Karnataka."
Siddaramaiah clarified that these schemes were not launched in connection with the bypolls but are ongoing programmes implemented as part of the Congress government’s commitments from the 2023 Assembly elections.
Funds are transferred regularly to beneficiaries in a transparent and structured manner, he added.
"The guarantees are part of governance—a direct investment in human dignity, household stability, and economic participation, not inducement," he said.
He also accused the BJP of "hypocrisy", saying that while it criticises Karnataka’s schemes as "freebies", it rolls out similar programmes in states it governs.
"The Karnataka model has set a benchmark for the country. What is deeply concerning, however, is the ECI’s selective approach," Siddaramaiah added.
