The people have almost forgotten the infamous ‘1,2,3’ speech made by CPM Idukki district secretary M.M. Mony at Manackadu on May 25 two years ago which triggered a political storm. Having survived that turbulent period, Mr Mony is at the helm of the party in the district though there is a criminal case against him in connection with the murder of Anchery Baby in Idukki district that occurred 30 years ago.
In his explosive speech at a party meeting at Manckadu, he had revealed that the party in the high ranges and the low ranges had eliminated political opponents consistently whenever they posed a challenge to the party. Following the speech, he was expelled from the party for nine months but was reinstated as the district secretary almost 15 months later.
Mr Mony told DC that though he was targeted by his political opponents by framing charges based on his speech, the cases or the controversies in no way had affected his morale or political career.
“Though the government tried its best to trap me by filing cases, I was unaffected as the cases were false,” he said.
Although he has been charged under various sections of the IPC, Mr Mony is free and engaged in party work in Idukki. It is said that the Manackadu speech had adversely affected his political career and that the CPM was hesitant to field candidates in the Lok Sabha election in Idukki due to the adverse impact caused by his speech.
Interestingly, Mr Mony did not make any political statements during the elections. The party was forced to support the HSS candidate fearing a backlash due to the hate speech of Mr Mony, said a senior Congress leader.
The police had registered a criminal case against Mr Mony and two other party activists for the murder of Anchery Baby. Recently, the relatives of Anchery Baby alleged that the police were trying to help Mr Mony escape from the case.
