Vijayan, addressing a public function in Kollam after inaugurating a farmers union, said that the retired judge was “spreading lies” about government statements and policies, especially on the National Population Register (NPR). “He is putting words in my mouth that I have not made,” the Chief Minister said.

Vijayan said that Pasha was making statements without realising their consequences. In a way, the Chief Minister was echoing a growing feeling in Kerala that the retired judge was issuing statements that could affect communal harmony.

One of Pasha’s demands has been that the Jamaat-e-Islami and SDPI be included in the anti-CAA protests. But the Kerala Chief Minister, heading the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front, said his front would not include them in the protests.

Pasha, on the other hand, wondered if Vijayan was supporting the CAA. He has denied supporting any Islamic outfit or having an agenda.

The public spat between Vijayan and the retired judge could be owing to the latter’s criticism of the State police, especially its actions on various fronts. Pasha has also been critical of the functioning of the CPM-led Government on various fronts.

On 7 December last year, Kerala Police withdrew its security to Pasha. It had provided four armed guards to the retired judge for his personal security.

Then, Pasha said the security was withdrawn when he was facing threat from Islamic fundamentalists, especially supporters of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

When he was the High Court Judge, Pasha ruffled many a feather with his remarks at a seminar on Muslim Personal Law that many of its provisions were against women. He also said it would be unfair to oppose the proposed Uniform Civil Code.

Retired justic Kemal Pasha

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