Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan Defends Son Amidst ED Summons Reports, Denies Corruption
Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has strongly defended his son, Vivek Kiran, against recent media reports suggesting he received a summons from the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Addressing the allegations, the Chief Minister asserted that his political career in Kerala has been transparent and untainted, which is why he remains calm in the face of attempts to malign his image.
Vijayan emphasized that his son leads a private life, focused on “work, then home,” and has never engaged in any activities that would bring disrepute to the family. He expressed immense pride in his son’s conduct and dismissed the current propagation of news as an attempt to cause him distress, stating that such efforts would not succeed.
Responding to a remark by CPM General Secretary M.A. Baby, who reportedly mentioned the ED had withdrawn a notice to the Chief Minister’s son, Vijayan clarified that Baby’s statement might have been based on news reports rather than factual understanding.
The Chief Minister highlighted his decade-long tenure, stating, “I have been the Chief Minister of Kerala for the past ten years. In this tenure, I have many reasons to be proud. I am committed to not allowing any corruption. That is why high-level corruption has been completely brought to an end here.” He questioned whether political opponents believe that deploying certain agencies to paint a different picture or influencing media institutions to spread propaganda would undermine his government’s efforts. “That is not going to happen,” he firmly declared.
Vijayan underscored his commitment to an untainted public life and credited his family for their unwavering support. “Both my children have adopted the same stance,” he said, challenging reporters, “How many of you have seen my son? He is the son of the Chief Minister of Kerala, isn’t he? You have seen the sons of Chief Ministers who move through the corridors of power. Have you seen my son anywhere? Have you seen him in any public place?”
He went further, stating, “I doubt if he even knows how many rooms there are in Cliff House. That is my son’s specialty. Any father would be proud of his son. My sense of pride is of a special kind. None of my children have acted in a way that would bring me a bad name.” Recalling past attempts to target his daughter, he said he faced them with a smile, and similarly, he would not be troubled by attempts to draw his son into controversy. He reiterated that his son is a respectable young man dedicated to his job and private life, not involved in public activities or wrongdoings.
“Don’t misunderstand that by raising all these things, you can trouble me,” Vijayan warned. He also questioned the authenticity of the alleged ED summons, asking, “Then where was this agency’s summons given? In whose hand was it given? To whom was it sent? How should the Chief Minister respond? Should I say, ‘You sent a paper, give it here’?” He accused his detractors of trying to paint a false picture and portray him as tainted before society, asserting that such attempts would fail.
“I repeatedly assure that there will be no corruption in my life,” the Chief Minister affirmed. He also stated that neither he nor his family had seen any ED summons, nor had his son informed him of receiving one. Concluding his statement, Vijayan remarked, “Someone close to me had said that a big bomb was coming. But, this turned out to be a damp squib.”