The Congress Party on Monday raked up the gold smuggling case in poll-bound Kerala, alleging there seems to be a “secret understanding” between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in connection with this matter.
Addressing the media at the party headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram, Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala said this is probably why “no FIR has been registered” against the Chief Minister in the gold smuggling case.
“Is the decision to purchase 300-megawatt wind power from Adani group for a long period of 25 years at about 8,700 crores is to cover up the gold smuggling case? Is no FIR registered against the CM and other ministers by the ED, income tax is a part of this understanding?” wondered Surjewala.
Questioning the “secret understanding” between the CPM and BJP in Kerala, the Congress leader said: “What is the deal between CM Vijayan and PM Modi? Is it not correct that 300-megawatt wind power for 25 years has been purchased by the Kerala Government at rates of Rs 2.85 paise and Rs 2.90 paise from Adani group at a cost that will be over 8,700 crores?”
“Is it also not correct that solar energy is available at Rs 1.90 per unit but this power is available at Rs 2.90 paise that is almost one rupee costlier? The quota of solar power in the overall basket of Kerala was reduced by PM Modi and CM Vijayan together from 2.75 percent to 0.75 percent. Why?” he asked.
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Earlier last week, the Kerala Government decided to conduct a judicial probe against the Enforcement Directorate (ED) over allegations by two key accused in the gold smuggling case that officials of the central agency forced them to confess against the Chief Minister.
The decision to go for a judicial probe comes a week after the state police registered a case against unnamed ED officials, alleging they forced key accused Swapna Suresh to make a statement against Vijayan.