Kerala - Thrissur   

CPI(M) claims credit for fall of naxalism in State

Staff Reporter

Karunakaran had a role in Azhikodan murder: Achuthanandan

THRISSUR: The Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan has criticised Democratic Indira Congress (Karunakaran) chairman K. Karunakaran for `defending' the cruelties committed by the police during the Emergency when he was Home Minister.

Addressing a meet-the-press programme of the Thrissur Press Club on Thursday, Mr. Achuthanandan questioned the claims of Mr. Karunakaran that the police repression [during the period] led to the decimation of the naxalite movement in the State. If repression could put an end to the naxalite movement, it should have happened in Andhra Pradesh as well [where the CPI(Maoist) is waging a war against the State].

The naxalites resorted to armed action in Kerala [in the early Seventies] because of the delay in implementing land reforms. The CPI(M) is of the view that Left adventurism as well as revisionism is dangerous. The party had then launched an intense campaign for creating awareness among the people on the need to carry out struggles for land reforms through democratic means. Many youngsters who had been attracted by the armed rebellion theory of the naxal movement returned to the democratic path following this. Consequently, the naxalite movement disintegrated into splinter groups. This was the reason for the decimation of the naxalite movement in Kerala and not the torture of some youths in police camps.

Replying to questions, Mr. Achuthanandan said the CPI(M) continued to believe that Mr. Karunakaran had an important role in the murder of the party leader Azhikodan Raghavan by some of his (Mr. Karunakaran's) men in the naxalite movement and in the police. The Left Democratic Front's understanding with the DIC(K) in the local bodies elections is just to crush the Congress-Indian Union Muslim League-Bharatiya Janata Party combine. The continuation of the relations will be decided by the LDF later. ``Even when we have understanding with Mr. Karunakaran's party we continue to express our differences with him. We faced similar criticisms when we entered into an alliance with the Congress faction led by A.K. Antony in 1980.''

``When the Congress (A) leader Aryadan Mohammed contested a byelection [to the State Assembly] as a candidate of the combine [LDF] then we had to face the criticism that we were betraying the martyr Kunjali. We were of the opinion that Mr. Aryadan was behind the murder of our comrade Kunjali. But as a politically forthright party we worked for the victory of Mr. Aryadan, a candidate of our alliance partner. Now the `A' group is hurling similar charges against us when we entered into an understanding with the Karunakaran faction.''

Referring to the entry of P.C. Thomas, MP into the LDF fold through the Kerala Congress (J), Mr. Achuthanandan said: ``We have made it clear to Mr. Joseph that he should find out whether Mr. Thomas has seriously distanced himself from the BJP. He will have to take strong anti-BJP positions just like the LDF. None should think that there is a free-for-all situation in the LDF... . None will be allowed to alter the basic identity of the LDF.''

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