Past links don’t worry CPI

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A day after CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan accused the CPI of living in the hangover of Congress links, CPI state secretary Pannyan Raveendran gave a stinging reply saying  none should threaten his party on the relations with the Congress.

At a press conference here ahead of  the crucial LDF meeting  on Monday, Mr Pannyan reminded Mr Pinarayi that the then CPM central committee member and Speaker Somnath Chatterjee had helped the Congress save the first UPA government despite the cash-for-vote scam. 

“When it came to links with the Congress, none is behind. Everyone has supported the Congress  one way or the other,’’ he added.

He cited Mr Pranab Mukherjee’s candidature as President as an  instance.  “The proposal to make Jyoti Basu prime minister was defeated by just one vote in the politburo. But that doesn't mean the majority PB members were with the Congress,” he said.

Mr Pannyan said he never thought the name of a widely- respected leader like P.K. Vasudevan Nair would be dragged into the controversy.

Reacting to Mr Pinarayi’s charge that PKV held on to the CM’s chair despite the CPI Bhatinda Congress in April 1978 deciding to sever ties with the Congress, he said, “PKV decided to quit following the party congress decision  but the delay was caused due the setting up of a common front.’’

“The CPM should not forget that its veteran leader Jyotirmoy Basu and PKV worked together in Parliament. While the CPI has rectified its mistakes and moved on, the CPM continues to stick on to the past as if these are badges of honour,” he said.

On Mr Pinarayi’s remark about street speeches, Mr Pannyan said he was proud of his street speeches. “P. Krishna Pillai, A.K. Gopalan and M.N. Govindan Nair built the communist movement speaking in the streets,” he added.

He attacked the CPM on the Mani issue. “Everyone knows who supported Mani. All know who spoke enthusiastically for Mani on TV channels.  Anyway, we are happy that the CPM has decided to agitate against Mani and also file a case against him,” he said.

Meanwhile LDF urges water, land tax hike boycott

The LDF has decided to revive its anti-tax agitation by asking people to boycott the hiked water tariff and land tax.

LDF convenor Vaikom Viswan said ward level conventions of tax payers would be held across the State before December 31, during which time public opinion would be mobilised against the tax hike.

He said attempts were being made by the Government to make changes in the present structure of various local bodies. 

“There is a move to turn municipalities into corporations and divide two panchayats into three. Government secretaries have been asked to submit recommendations in this regard.

We demand that no such decision be taken without proper study. The Government should constitute a commission to go into such issues,’’ he added.

Viswan alleged that the Government through the Town and Country Planning ordinance was trying to derail the decentralisation process. Town and Country planning officials were now formulating district plans which were against the spirit of decentralisation.

The LDF meeting also passed a resolution on the Mullaperiyar dam issue accusing government of failing to apprise SC of dangers from rising water levels.   The LDF decided to work for the success of the national campaign of Left parties from Dec 8 to 14.