Thiruvananthapuram: CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran welcomed the proposal of CPM politburo member Prakash Karat for a discussion on the stand taken by his party on various issues in Kerala. Karat at a press conference in Kozhikode last week had reminded the CPI that it was part of the ruling front and should not act like a opposition party. “We are ready for discussions. Karat should propose a date immediately,” he said. He said Karat had presented the issue as something new. “On April 6, top leaders of the two parties met in Delhi. The issue first came up there and it was decided to have a party to party meet. Since Karat made it public, our party too decided to respond publicly.” Kanam said on examining each issue, it would be clear that CPI had taken the position of Left and not the opposition UDF. The party opposed Maoist fake encounter in Nilambur as a Left Government cannot follow the police policy of Chattisgarh or Jharkhand.
Indian Left has taken a position on the police actions in Jharkhand, Chattisgarh and Odhisha – Andhra border. UDF on the other hand had welcomed the Nilambour encounter. “Karat should say whether our stand is pro left or anti left,” he said. The CPI firmly believes that UAPA is a black law. This is also a general view of Left. “This law has been widely misused; thousands of Muslim youths have been put in jail. During UDF rule it was used against CPM leaders in Kannur,” he said. Kanam said on RTI, his party had upheld the Left’s well stated position. RTI was included in common minimum programme following pressure from the Left parties.
When UPA tried to dilute the RTI, it was Karat and A B Bardhan who opposed it. Does Karat have the guts to say that Cabinet decisions should not be brought within the purview of RTI ? he asked. LDF manifesto had categorically stated that RTI would be implemented in true letter and spirit. But UDF had a different stand on RTI. He said the CPI would continue to caution the LDF Government against decisions that weakened the front.“ I hope all these issues will come up during party to party discussions. We accept Karat’s suggestion and urgehim to hold the dioscusoins at the earliest,” he said.
