Kerala Tourism Minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas on Tuesday dismissed the state government’s role in inviting YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, who was arrested in May on charges of espionage, to any official tourism event. BJP leaders quoted RTI responses stating that the Kerala government invited Malhotra, sparking political controversy to which the minister responded.
“Jyoti Malhotra was invited by the designated agency well before any case against her surfaced, and the Kerala government had no role in selecting influencers,” Mohammed Riyas asserted in a statement to media personnel.
The row has broken out following BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla’s claim that Malhotra was provided a platform by the Kerala government when she was suspected of spying for Pakistan.
“So Bharat Mata is blocked and Pak spies are given red carpet by the Left,” Poonawalla tweeted, attacking the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala.
CPI Retorts, Stands By Kerala Government
In a strong counter-shot, Communist Party of India (CPI) member P. Sandosh Kumar vociferously criticised the BJP’s accusation. He faulted the saffron party for seeking to deflect national security failures at the Centre with this case.
“The Communist Party of India strongly condemns the BJP’s attempt to drag the Kerala government into the Jyoti Malhotra espionage case to cover up its own grave failures on national security,” Kumar said.
He also questioned why anyone would blame a state government for international travel, intelligence surveillance, or visa grants—all of which fall under the Union government’s jurisdiction.
“Did the Kerala government approve her visits to Pakistan? Did it place her in contact with ISI handlers in Delhi? This is a desperate and politically motivated deflection,” he said.
Centre Controls Intelligence, Not States, CPI Claims
Kumar noted that national security is a core topic, and hence, the BJP-led Union government can’t let itself off the hook in terms of repeated intelligence lapses.
“Indian people are entitled to accountability and not political vendetta and scapegoating,” Kumar stated.
However, reports citing RTI responses have alleged that Malhotra was part of a Kerala tourism collaboration programme involving various influencers. Nevertheless, the state now insists that a specific external agency managed the invitations.
The controversy highlights how the Centre and opposition-governed states increasingly clash, especially when they politicise delicate issues such as espionage.
