Kochi: Leader of the opposition VD Satheesan slammed Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, asserting that no other CM in the country has provided such extensive protection to those leaders accused of sexual harassment. Responding to Vijayan's accusations against him in the Rahul Mamkootathil issue, Satheesan advised Vijayan to ‘look into the mirror’ to see how many leaders accused of sexual harassment he had protected and justified. 

"When the Chief Minister points one finger at me, he should know that his four other fingers are pointing back at him. A sitting MLA, who frequently appears with Vijayan, is facing charges in two rape cases. Two ministers in the state cabinet have a history of sexual misconduct allegations. Many in key positions within the CPM are facing similar accusations, and what action has the party taken against them? Without any FIR being registered against Rahul, the Congress have suspended him on moral grounds. Yet, Pinarayi Vijayan, who had never taken any action against those leaders, is advising me now. I don’t need that advice," Satheesan said, referring to the cases against M Mukesh MLA, and ministers AK Saseendran and KB Ganesh Kumar. 

Satheesan also added that for the Congress party, the Rahul Mamkootathil issue is now a ‘closed chapter’ as he evaded questions on Mamkootathil. 

Satheesan also criticised Vijayan over the gold smuggling case, which involved CM's former principal secretary M Sivasankar and Swapna Suresh. "Did the chief minister investigate where his former Principal Secretary was in the evenings? Despite having the IB and Special Branch, did the CM inquire where he was going? How many CPM leaders, ministers, and speakers did the accused person name? Was a case filed against anyone? Did anyone file even a single defamation suit?" Satheesan asked. 

Satheesan also demanded that the BJP leadership explain the allegations made by a woman against BJP state vice-president C Krishnakumar. He stated that Krishnakumar's reaction to the allegations revealed the identity of the woman who made them, and he wants to hear what BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar has to say about the issue, given his strong reaction to the Rahul Mankootathil case. He also said that more ‘shocking news’ is yet to come.