Deputy CM D K Shivakumar backs Parameshwara amid ED raids, calls him 'clean and honest'
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Bengaluru (PTI): As the ED continued searches at institutions linked to Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara in connection with a money laundering probe tied to gold smuggling case, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar came out strongly in support of his cabinet colleague, calling him a "clean and honest man".
Defending Parameshwara, the state Congress President said, "he might gifted around Rs 15-25 lakh to Rao during some family event or marriage, but that doesn't mean he encouraged her (actress Ranya Rao) to indulge in illegal activities like smuggling."
The Enforcement Directorate is conducting searches under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) targeting hawala operators and accommodation entry operators accused of routing "fake" transactions into Ranya Rao's accounts.
A PMLA case was registered a few months ago after ED took cognisance of a CBI and DRI (Directorate of Revenue Intelligence) complaint into a larger gold smuggling racket in India, including the case of Rao.
"I spoke to Parameshwara, I visited him in the morning. He has given Rs 15-25 lakh, we are in public life, many run trusts. At a family event or marriage gifts might have been given. Will an influential person like Parameshwara encourage her to indulge in illegal things like smuggling?" asked Shivakumar.
Speaking to reporters here, the Deputy CM said, "If she (Rao) has done anything wrong, let her be punished in accordance with law."
"As far as Parameshwara is concerned, he is a law abiding citizen, he is the Home Minister of the state, we are proud of him, he is a big leader. He was party president for eight years, he has done a lot of service to the state. He has been an MLA since 1989 with me, he has been a Minister... He is a clean and honest man... He might have given a gift for marriage, that's all. He will answer."
Shivakumar said he met Parameshwara and assured him of the Congress party's full support.
"He is attending cabinet today," he added.
According to ED sources, an educational trust is suspected to have "diverted" funds and made a payment of Rs 40 lakh towards the credit card bill of Rao, allegedly on the instructions of an influential individual.
The sources claimed that the trust is linked to Parameshwara and the "influential" individual is a "politically exposed person". The payment for the credit bill lacked documentation or vouchers, they said.
Earlier Shivakumar said, "Charitable institutions often help people... small charity might have been done for marriage, school fees, hospital bills, such help might have been done, I'm not denying it. Rest of the matter, let's see what they (ED) will do."
Responding to a question on Chief Minister and AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala comments on the ED raids, he said, "I stand by whatever my Chief Minister and AICC General Secretary have said. I can't take a separate stand, but whatever I have said is important."
Asked whether the party will protest against the raids, Shivakumar said the Congress will fight back legally and politically throughout the country, including the case involving Congress leader Sonia Gandhi.
"Sonia Gandhi has not done any personal property. We will definitely fight . We have faith in the court and the Court will give us justice," he added.
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UDF leaders see local body poll trends as pointer to 2026 Assembly elections in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Buoyed by the strong performance of the Congress-led UDF in the local body polls, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said on Saturday that the front's results indicated the people had rejected the LDF government.
According to early trends, the UDF was leading in more grama panchayats, block panchayats, municipalities and corporations than the LDF.
The local body polls were held in two phases in the state earlier this week.
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Speaking to reporters here, Joseph said the people of Kerala had extended their support to the UDF.
"We could expose the LDF government’s anti-people stance and the people understood it. The LDF’s fake propaganda was rejected by the people. The UDF is moving towards a historic victory," he said.
He said a united effort, proper preparations, good candidate selection and hard work had resulted in the Congress and the UDF’s victory in the elections.
Asked about the prospects in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Joseph said the party was studying the matter and would comment later.
LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan said the results would be closely examined.
According to him, the government had done everything possible for the people.
"Why such a verdict happened will be examined at the micro level. People’s opinion will be considered and further steps will be taken," he said.
He added that decisions would be taken after analysing the results. "If any corrective measures are required, we will initiate them and move forward," he said.
AICC leader K C Venugopal said the results showed that people had begun ousting those who, he alleged, were responsible for the loss of gold at Lord Ayyappa’s temple.
"This trend will continue in the Assembly elections as well. It is an indication that the people are ready to bring down the LDF government," he said.
Venugopal said the UDF had registered victories even in CPI(M) and LDF strongholds.
"I congratulate all UDF workers for their hard work. Congress workers and leaders worked unitedly," he said.
Referring to remarks made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan against the Congress on polling day, Venugopal said the voters had responded through the verdict.
"I do not know whether the chief minister understands that the people are against him. Otherwise, he does not know the sentiment of the people. The state government cannot move an inch further," he said.
He said the results indicated a strong comeback for the UDF in Kerala.
Asked whether the Sabarimala gold loss issue had affected the LDF in the local polls, Venugopal said the CM and the CPI(M) state secretary did not take the issue seriously.
"We took a strong stand on the matter. The BJP played a foul game in it," he alleged.
On the BJP's role in the local body elections, Venugopal alleged that the party operated with the CPI(M) 's tacit support.
"The CPI(M) supported the central government on issues such as PM-SHRI, labour codes and corruption in national highway construction. The CPI(M) is facing ideological decline, and the state government’s policies are against the party’s own decisions," he said.
Meanwhile, LDF ally Kerala Congress (M) leader Jose K Mani said the party could not win all the wards it had expected in the elections.
He congratulated winners from all parties and said the party would closely examine the losses and identify shortcomings. "Later, we will take corrective measures," he added.
Senior Congress leader and MP Rajmohan Unnithan said the trends in the local body elections indicated that the UDF would return to power in the 2026 Assembly elections.
"We will win 111 seats as in 1977 and return to power in 2026. The anti-government sentiment of the people is reflected in the elections," he said.
Unnithan said the people were disturbed and unhappy with the present government.
"The trend indicates the end of the LDF government," he added.
CPI(M) MLA M M Mani said the people had shown ingratitude towards the LDF despite benefiting from welfare schemes.
"After receiving all welfare schemes and living comfortably, people voted against us due to some temporary sentiments. Is that not ingratitude," he asked.
Mani said no such welfare initiatives had taken place in Kerala earlier.
"People are receiving pensions and have enough to eat. Even after getting all this, they voted against us. This is what can be called ingratitude," he said.
Muslim League state president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal said the results were beyond expectations.
"The outcome points towards the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, indicating that a change of government is imminent. We are going to win the Assembly election," he said.
