Kochi: The simmering discontent between CPM and CPI, two major partners of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), has hit a new low with CPI leaders openly blaming Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for police action at Puthuvypeen against people opposing the LPG Terminal project. CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran and Ernakulam district secretary upped the ante against the CPM even as the party mouthpiece Janayugam published a hard-hitting editorial on Monday drawing rhetorical comparisons between police action at Puthuvypeen with incidents at Nandigram in West Bengal. Rejecting the claims of DGP Senkumar on the police action, Kanam said the argument that the police action at High Court Jn, was on account of the visit of PM is not acceptable.
“How can the people of Vypeen mount a blockade against the PM sitting at Delhi on June 16”, Kanam said. The CPI leader also said a section of the police is deliberately trying to defame the government by attacking people’s struggles, he said. On charges of extremist presence in the agitation, Kanam said the police is having the names of all the people arrested in connection with the incident. They should now reveal who are the extremists among the arrested, he added. Addressing a protest march held by the All India Youth Federation (AIYF) CPI district secretary P Raju said if the Chief Minister is unable to control the police the CPI will have to undertake the same.
Launching a severe attack against the Chief Minister he wondered why he protects a police official such as Yatish Chandra known for his anti-communist bias. He said the party will raise the demand for the removal of the official during the talks convened by the Chief Minister on Wednesday. The Janayugam editorial meanwhile has said the police action has blackened the image of the LDF. The editorial said the government has not initiated any steps to provide a satisfactory answer to the concerns raised by the local people. The government should hold immediate discussions with the local people without any pre-conceived notions, the paper said.
