BJP demands Kerala minister’s resignation for alleged links with banned outfit

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala unit of BJP has demanded the resignation of Minister of Ports Mr Ahammad Devarkovil for his alleged connection with the banned Rehab Foundation.

BJP state president K. Surendran alleged that the head of the banned organisation and the leader of the ruling LDF's constituent Indian National League (INL) to which the minister belongs are the same. Mohammad Suleiman, the head of Rehab Foundation, is also the chief of INL, the BJP leader alleged and urged chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan should sack Mr Devarkovil.

Rehab Foundation is one of the organisations which has been banned for five years by the Centre along with PFI.

The minister, however, rejected the allegations of Surendran. “The BJP leader’s allegations are ridiculous and baseless. He has come out with the accusation to grab news headlines and nothing else,” Mr Devarkovil said. He challenged the BJP leader to provide evidence linking him with the Rehab Foundation.

The Minister said his party INL and the ruling LDF were against all forms of terror organisations.