The Hindu : Kerala News : ‘Do the faithful have place in CPI(M)?’

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 17, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala

‘Do the faithful have place in CPI(M)?’

Staff Reporter

Oommen Chandy

Thrissur: Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy has urged the Communist Party of India (Marxist) to make it clear whether believers have a place in the party.

He was addressing a meet-the-press at the Thrissur Press Club on Tuesday.

“The CPI(M) recently said that party members had the freedom to keep their faith. The party, however, warned the cadre against deviations from Marxist-Leninist principles when Aisha Potti and M.M. Monayi, MLAs, took the oath in the name of God. Their faith was seen as anti-party activity. The CPI(M) has taken contradictory stands on issues of faith and religion.”

The Leader of the Opposition alleged that the statement by CPI(M) State secretary Pinarayi Vijayan against the Thamarassery Bishop was a diversionary tactic intended to distract attention from the real problems in governance, political controversies and infighting in the CPI(M).

Withdraw remark

“The CPI(M) does not practise what it preaches. In the past 17 months, the LDF [Left Democratic Front] has challenged the beliefs of all communities. Mr. Vijayan should withdraw his remark. The kind of language he used against a spiritual teacher reeks of hubris. Even if he disagrees with the Thamarassery Bishop, Mr. Vijayan should have responded in a mature and decent manner,” Mr. Chandy said.

He said the issues raised by M.N. Vijayan in his last press conference at the Thrissur Press Club were relevant and deserved serious attention.

Asked whether the Opposition was soft on allegations against Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac, Mr. Chandy replied that the United Democratic Front (UDF) would comment on the issues raised by the Padhom journal after studying them.

Addressing a leadership meet at the District Congress Committee, Mr. Chandy said the UDF would incur the wrath of people if it did not take on the bad governance of the LDF government. “The condition of roads reflects the governance,” he said.

Youth Congress protest

Staff Reporter writes from Kochi:

Youth Congress State president T. Siddique has said that allegations levelled against a Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader in the Padhom magazine has not been denied by the latter.

At a press conference here on Tuesday, he said the court which examined the issue had held that there were facts supporting the allegations.

Mr. Siddique said the Youth Congress would organise a campaign from October 27 to highlight the issue.

It would also organise a march to Central Bureau of Investigation office on November 8 demanding that the culprits in SNC Lavalin case be brought to book. He alleged that the current controversy over a religious affair was meant to divert the attention of people from the case.

Youth Congress national secretary Nyamer Karbak, district president Polachan Maniamkode and the State leaders Manoj Muthedan and Muhammad Shiyaz were present.

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