NILAMBUR: Minister for Education M.A. Baby was `detained' at the CPI(M) area committee office here on Saturday for about two hours by party activists who opposed the Minister inaugurating a literacy programme organised by the Nilambur panchayat ruled by the United Democratic Front (UDF). The Minister's detention led to high drama, forcing the intervention of the CPI(M) top leaders.

Mr. Baby arrived here to inaugurate a function in which he was to distribute the certificates to the learners under the Jyothirgamaya literacy project. The CPI(M) here opposed the Minister taking part in the function on the ground that the party had raised charges of irregularities in the literacy project.

The trouble started when the Minister arrived at the party area committee office, Kunhali Mandiram, at 10.20 a.m. CPI(M) area committee secretary P.T. Ummer welcomed Mr. Baby, but other party members kept away.

After holding talks with Mr. Ummer and party State leader P.K. Sainaba, the Minister called DYFI leaders for talks at 11 a.m. After a discussion that lasted till 11.30 a.m., the Minister declared that he would inaugurate the function as scheduled.

The CPI(M) activists then laid a siege to the Kunhali Mandiram. As the siege continued, CPI(M) district secretary K. Saidalikutty reached the party office and held talks with the activists. He later announced that the Minister would inaugurate the function, but would not distribute the certificates. He also said that the party would seriously examine the complaints of the local workers.

Mr. Baby inaugurated the function more than two hours late. He said it was the policy of E.M.S. Namboothiripad not to show any discrimination in matters of development.

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