UDF leaders object, vehicle check sparks controversy
Kochi: If a blue suitcase stole the spotlight during the Palakkad bypoll, a vehicle inspection in Nilambur has now sparked fresh controversy. UDF MP Shafi Parambil and MLA Rahul Mamkootathil were travelling together when officials waved down their vehicle for inspection on Friday.
A video of the inspection, in which the UDF leaders can be seen arguing with the officials, visibly irked over the checking, was widely shared on social media. In the video, Rahul questions the random checking of MPs' vehicles, while Shafi can be heard saying that the problem was not about checking MPs' vehicles but of only checking UDF lawmakers' vehicles. Rahul was also seen raising his voice and arguing with an official, accusing him of being biased.
Speaking to the media on Saturday, Shafi said the intention was to insult and not to inspect. Answering questions on whether it was right to threaten the officials, Shafi said if the intention was inspection alone, then they did not wish to say anything, but that was not the case.
He said they cooperated since the officials have the right to conduct inspections. Shafi said when he got out of the car, he was asked to open the boot of the car and take out the suitcases.
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But the officials didn't check the boxes when he took them out. He added that they objected to this as the officials must check and certify that nothing was found in the suitcases.
Shafi said they raised a question as to whether they are inspecting vehicles of other political parties. He said that to their knowledge, it has not happened, which is why they felt suspicious about the checking.
In the backdrop of the development, Malappuram district collector V R Vinod issued a statement urging public to cooperate with inspections.
He said that media reports related to the officers appointed as part of the implementation of the Nilambur bypoll code of conduct have come to his attention and that the people should cooperate with the inspections to ensure free, fair and transparent election processes.
Vinod said these are mandatory measures as per the Election Act and the guidelines issued by the Indian Election Commission. Static surveillance teams are setting up temporary check posts and conducting vehicle inspections in key places in the constituency. These teams are working 24 hours a day. Each static surveillance team has a gazetted officer, two other officers, a videographer and a civil police officer, he added.
Responsibilities given to employees of static surveillance teams include comprehensive inspection of vehicles. The entire inspection process is captured in the video.
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