I did not discuss CPM politics with Rauf: VS

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan denied reports that he had discussed CPM politics with K A Rauf, co-brother-turned-foe of Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty. “Rauf met me the other day and said that he is facing threat from Kunhalikutty. I asked him to give his complaint in writing. We also discussed the ice cream parlour case,’’VS told a press conference here on Saturday.

In reply to a query, VS said that he never asked Rauf to speak against any CPM leader. "’I don’t think he will say like that,’’ said VS. According to him, the present controversy is the handiwork of Kunhalikutty to divert attention from the Kasargod judicial commission and from the new developments pertaining to the ice cream parlour case.

Referring to the hunger strike of Anna Hazare, VS said his struggle was a second independence movement and the Union Government would finally have to yield to his demands.

The Opposition Leader levelled strong criticism against the Travancore royal family while answering queries related to the developments regarding the Padmanabha Swamy temple. He said that there were allegations that Uthradam Thirunal Marthanda Varma, head of the Travancore royal family, used to smuggle out gold ornaments from the vaults of the temple.

Marthanda Varma refused to respond to the allegations. He told the media that he would offer a reply when the time was right.