Be cautious, V S Achuthanandan tells leaders

Thiruvananthapuram: A day after Pinarayi Vijayan stated that CPM secretariat resolution passed on the eve of state conference in 2015 that termed opposition leader V S Achuthanandan as as one with anti party mindset existed, veteran leader reacted through his Facebook post asking leaders to be cautious while making public statements.

The opposition leader who addressed election meetings in Pinarayi’s constituency Dharmadom, however, didn't say a word on the issue during his campaign.

“It is a period when journalists are under extreme pressure to create news. Therefore the LDF leaders need to be extremely careful while airing their opinions. I came across a number of news items stating that Pinarayi Vijayan had spoken badly about me. However, Pinarayi himself has clarified that he didn't make such a statement and the media had put words in his mouth. The controversy should have ended there. But there seems to be an attempt to fan it,” he said.

Achuthanandan said UDF and BJP leaders had gone to the extent of suggesting that he should stay away from electoral fray. Some polzitical opponents have mocked at us saying CPM leaders are united only in flex boards.

"However, let us leave the controversy behind and focus on real issues. There has never been a government in the past which harmed the people to this extent. I and Pinarayi Vijayan, along with other LDF leaders, have taken up the task of overthrowing the corrupt government and installing a people’s government,” he said.

Achuthanandan reiterated that the LDF leaders should not use words even by mistake that can be misinterpreted or twisted by rivals. He cited an incident that happened in US which went like this; Once Archbishop of Canterbury visited America after a long time. The first question journalists put to him was "What is your opinion about brothels in America ? A surprised Archbishop asked "Do you have brothels in America? The headlines next day screamed; "Archbishop enquires about brothels on his arrival in America."

Soon after the first FB post went viral, the opposition leader came out with another one and this time to clarify that he had not given advise to any leader indirectly referring to Pinarayi Vijayan. He urged the media to refrain from twisting his statements.

Meanwhile, at a meet the press programme in Kollam on Thursday, Pinarayi Vijayan slammed the media for misinterpreting his statement. “There is a deliberate attempt from a section of media to create confusion in the minds of people during crucial elections. They come in an organised way to put such questions and interpret the answers in their own way to show that the CPM is a divided house," he said. The CPM politburo member also stated that Achuthanandan’s FB post was not aimed at him.