The Congress-led UDF opposition on Wednesday lashed out at Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan over the controversial gold smuggling case and staged a walkout in the assembly as their demand for discussion over the issue was rejected by the Speaker.

An unshaken Chief Minister, however, gave a tit-for-tat reply to the opposition in the zero hour, saying his hands were "clean". Unleashing a vehement personal attack on Vijayan, the opposition said it was for the first time in the state's history that the Chief Minister's Office had come under suspicion over such a crime and so many central agencies investigating allegations against it simultaneously.

Claiming that the Left government had demanded a probe into the gold smuggling case, Vijayan, however, said the thought that he would be put behind bars in the case would end up as a 'day-dream' of the opposition. Despite the efforts by all investigating agencies, no evidence could be brought against the state government so far, he said.

As a state govt, it is our responsibility," Vijayan said. Defending Raveendran, who was recently quizzed by the Enforcement Directorate, he said his additional private secretary was asked to appear for questioning not in connection with the gold smuggling. "It was only to clarify certain matters on the basis of certain complaints," Vijayan said.

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