Jyoti Malhotra Teams Up with BJP Leaders for Vande Bharat Promotion in Kerala

Rapid Summary:

• Controversy: Kerala Tourism faced backlash over inviting YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra-recently arrested (May 16) on charges of spying for Pakistan-to promote tourism. BJP leaders criticized teh decision, questioning her inclusion and calling for Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas’ resignation.
• Past Involvement: A video accessed by The Hindu revealed that Ms. Malhotra had previously been invited by Indian Railways to cover the launch of Kerala’s second Vande Bharat Express in 2024, attending alongside BJP leader and then Union Minister V. Muraleedharan and former State BJP president K. Surendran.
• BJP Reaction: Party spokesperson shehzad Jai hind accused Kerala’s Left government of rolling out a “red carpet” for an alleged Pakistani spy, demanding action against Minister riyas.
• Railway Defense: Railway sources stated Ms. Malhotra was invited because of her media influence, emphasizing ther were no allegations against her at the time.
• Social Media Impact: The promotional video eulogizing Vande Bharat received significant engagement with 28,000 likes.

Indian Opinion Analysis:

This controversy highlights deeper tensions within India’s political discourse surrounding national security and governance decisions by state institutions. while inviting influential figures to promote projects like tourism or infrastructure is common practice globally, accusations regarding national security risks warrant clear scrutiny and transparency from all agencies involved.The revelation that Ms. Malhotra worked with both BJP leaders during a Railway-sponsored event and later with Kerala Tourism illustrates possible inconsistencies in accountability claims made across party lines.For India’s democracy to thrive, such instances call for impartial investigations devoid of politicization so that matters involving alleged espionage risks can be objectively resolved.Maintaining trust in public institutions-both at central and state levels-is crucial as India positions itself globally while safeguarding its internal security interests.

Read more at The Hindu.