Opposition wants Kerala’s Chief Minister’s response to the left MLA’s Kashmir comments

Thiruvananthapuram on August 14th, : The main opposition Congress as well as the BJP are demanding that the Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan take a stand to the controversial comments that his cabinet member and MLA who resigned, K.T.

Jaleel to KashmirKerala opposition leader V.D.Satheeshan stated that the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan must make a clear statement regarding the assertion of Jaleel saying that Pakistan claimed that the occupied Kashmir was "Azad Kashmir", a phrase used by Pakistan establishment.BJP Kerala state president K.Surendran demanded the resignation of Jaleel from the position of MLA.The Union Minister of State for External Affairs and the senior BJP head of Kerala, V.Muraleedharan declared that the Chief Minister is unable to be excused from the matter and asked for his reaction.In a post on Facebook on Friday the former minister stated that the area of Kashmir that was on the Indian side was "India Occupied Kashmir" and that the Pakistan side, it was "Azad Kashmir".

This is clearly a deviant from the position that was taken by India.Jaleels Facebook posting came in the wake of an appearance of an eminent group of Kerala MLAs in Kashmir.

His post drew criticism from all over the state with CPI-M not agreeing with the remarks of the former minister who was infamous.CPI-M chairman and Kerala minister for urban development, M.V.Govindan declared that CPI-M has clearly defined policy regarding Kashmir and that this differs from what was stated by Jaleel.The BJP has also claimed that Jaleel was an ex-operative of the banned Student Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).

BJP Kerala state president Surendran stated that the public shouldnt be expecting anything from an ex- SIMI leader and urged the government of Kerala to bring sedition charges on Jaleel.In a similar development, ABVP Kerala state secretary NCT Sreehari has filed a formal complaint at the Thiruvananthapuram Cantonment police station against Jaleel seeking sedition proceedings against the former minister in connection with the post on his Facebook.

Another case has been filed at New Delhi against K.T.Jaleel on an application filed by a person G.S.Mani who is a lawyer in New Delhi.aal/kv.