The ED investigation has made the state government. Worried: Anurag Thakur

Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs Anurag Thakur on Sunday said that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) will take all legal measures to ensure that the state government’s strategy does not come out of the investigation in the case of smuggling of diplomatic goods.

He said that the Crime Branch case against the ED reflected growing concern with the Left Democratic Front government closing the investigation on the racketeers.

While interacting with media persons here during the state visit to campaign for the National Democratic Alliance candidates in the assembly elections, Mr. Thakur said that the ED’s investigation into the gold smuggling racket was disturbing Chief Minister Pinarayan Vijayan.

“As heads of state, they should be open to free and impartial investigation, if they have nothing to hide. He is instead shying away from the investigation. The law will take its own course and the ED is entitled to contact the right forum (to fight the case), ”he said.

He claimed that the Left Democratic Front regime resulted in “brain drain and brain washing”, with large numbers of unemployed youth being forced to leave the country in search of jobs. “Competent youth are finding it difficult to find employment, while undesirable people are getting job opportunities,” he said.

Mr. Thakur said that the government had also provided a safe haven for radical groups who were using the state as a launch pad for extremist activities in the country.

Citing the controversy over the entry of women into Sabarimala, Mr. Thakur accused the state government of trying to destroy faith and tradition to promote their vested interests.

He also claimed that Kerala benefited immensely during the NDA regime during the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime from 2009-14.

While the tax deviation was 41 29,841 crore during UPA’s tenure, the state received 13 71,713 crore during 2014-19. Similarly, grant-in-aid increased from 7 15,297 crores to 6 44,856 crores and Finance Commission grant from 602 crores to -18,000 crores.