Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], February 6: Kerala’s Leader of the Opposition, VD Satheesan, sharply criticized the state government on Thursday, describing Kerala as the “capital of drugs” and highlighting the deteriorating law and order situation in the state.
Speaking to reporters, Satheesan expressed concern over the growing crime rate and the widespread presence of drug-related activities. He said, “Life in Kerala is in a difficult condition… Nobody can step out of their house without fear of being attacked. The streets are filled with criminals and goons. Drug addict parties are prevalent, and Kerala is now the capital of drugs.”
Satheesan accused the excise department and the state government of failing to take action to curb the issue, claiming that the police were not effectively addressing the problem. He further stated that the police were being controlled by political influences and that law enforcement was being manipulated by a group within the Chief Minister’s office (CMO), leading to “shady dealings.”
“Nobody follows the orders of the top officials. The police are controlled by the party,” Satheesan added.
This is not the first time the Opposition leader has criticized the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government. Last month, he brought attention to the shocking findings in the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report. The report revealed that expired drugs were supplied to 26 hospitals across Kerala between 2016-17 and 2021-22, which he claimed pointed to corruption and mismanagement within the state’s health services.
The CAG report indicated that expired drugs and medical supplies had been issued to hospital wards in 60 instances, amounting to a total value of 0.89 lakhs. Satheesan warned that the use of expired drugs could pose serious health risks, as the chemical composition of medications changes after expiry, potentially endangering the lives of patients.