CM Vijayan Breaks Silence on Sabarimala Gold Row, Vows No Protection for Guilty, Slams Opposition

Thiruvananthapuram — Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday spoke out for the first time on the Sabarimala gold plating controversy, criticising the Opposition’s protests in the Legislative Assembly as “excessive” while praising the Speaker for managing the situation effectively.

The Chief Minister described the Assembly’s disruptions as unprecedented, particularly the incident where the Speaker’s face was covered during protests. He appreciated the Speaker’s efforts to maintain dialogue, noting that the Treasury benches participated actively to ensure discussions remained constructive.

Vijayan emphasised that the government is ready to address all factual issues raised by the Opposition, but accused them of fear-mongering and creating distractions.

On the gold-plating controversy, he stated: “The government fears nothing. High Court inspections are ongoing. We have never shielded any guilty party, nor will we. Actions are taken against the erring without bias. The Special Investigation Team is probing the matter. Strict action will follow.”

The Chief Minister also condemned the protest tactics in the House, citing instances where a member appeared poised to leap over the bench to disrupt proceedings, and noting protests targeted at Watch and Ward staff and even women MLAs. He described such behaviour as “entirely unacceptable.”

The Assembly witnessed heavy protests for the third consecutive day, prompting temporary adjournments before proceedings resumed. With the session ending Thursday, the Opposition has announced a state-wide protest, demanding the resignation of Devasom Minister V.N. Vasavan.

The gold plating row continues to dominate legislative and public discourse, highlighting the growing tensions between the government and Opposition benches in Kerala.

With inputs from IANS