Former Kerala Health Minister K K Shailaja stated that the Special Investigation Team inquiry ordered by the Home Department into the disputed ‘Kafir screenshot’ incident in Vadakara during the Lok Sabha election should continue in order to identify those responsible.
Speaking to reporters, Ms. Shailaja said she had no information about the matter and that the investigation would proceed regardless of her views. She noted that her involvement in the election was limited to her role as a candidate and maintained that no communal polarization occurred in Vadakara.
Vadakara MP Shafi Parambil welcomed the government’s decision to set up an SIT. In a statement, he claimed the fake screenshot was deliberately created by the CPI(M) to disturb harmony in Vadakara and foster communal divisions among voters for political benefit. He added that the inquiry should expose the individuals behind the misinformation and trace its origin so they can face legal consequences.
The controversy surfaced during the Lok Sabha campaign in Vadakara and led to accusations between political parties over efforts to sway voters through communal messaging. The Home Department has since directed a dedicated SIT probe.
