A K Antony Says He Alone Is Being Blamed for Muthanga and Sivagiri Incidents

Thiruvananthapuram: During a press meet in Thiruvananthapuram, former Kerala Chief Minister and senior Congress leader A K Antony said that he alone is being blamed for the police actions in Muthanga and Sivagiri during the UDF government.

He expressed frustration that even after withdrawing from active politics 21 years ago and moving to Delhi, no one within his party was willing to hear his side of the story. Antony claimed that during recent discussions in the Kerala Legislative Assembly, UDF members refused to defend him, leaving him isolated in the debate.

He recalled the 1995 Sivagiri incident, when police were sent following a High Court order, and the Muthanga episode, where tribal communities were affected in a wildlife sanctuary.

Antony also called for the release of the CBI report on Muthanga, the Justice Balakrishnan Nambiar Commission report on Sivagiri, and the report on the Marad riots, citing the need for transparency and accountability.

The remarks highlight a perception of double standards in political accountability, suggesting that individual leaders can be made scapegoats for actions carried out by the state machinery while parties focus on protecting their image. The statement may intensify scrutiny of Congress’s handling of historical incidents and raise questions about internal loyalty and transparency within the party.

The statement highlights the double standards in political accountability, showing how leaders can become scapegoats for actions carried out by the state machinery, while parties prioritise their image over confronting past wrongs.

Antony’s remarks also underline the tension between moral responsibility and political expediency, drawing attention to historical controversies that parties may prefer to avoid. The disclosure could generate scrutiny of Congress’s handling of past incidents and provoke questions about internal loyalty, transparency, and accountability within the party.