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No criticism in party records, says VS

Special Correspondent

V.S. Achuthanandan: opportunists and revisionists fear people with extremist views.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan said here on Wednesday that official records of the proceedings of the State committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) did not carry the reported criticism against him.

Talking to the media after Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister said that he would reply to any criticism at appropriate party forums.

The Chief Minister was replying to questions about a reference in an official release of the party to “extremists” who proposed a second phase of land reforms. Denying that he had ever propagated the idea, Mr. Achuthanandan said opportunists and revisionists feared people with extremist views. They derided extremists. However, both revisionism and extremism were harmful to society.

Referring to the criticism that he failed to lead and control the Ministers, Mr. Achuthanandan said he had intervened and discussed issues regarding functioning of Ministers at appropriate forums.

He said that the members of the State committee, Polit Bureau and the Left Democratic Front constituents had every right to criticise him individually or collectively. He would accept criticisms that are factual and reject others.

Acknowledging that there were differences over his candidature in the Assembly elections, Mr. Achuthanandan recalled that a section in the party had told the Polit Bureau that his candidature would lead to the victory of the United Democratic Front. So, he had told the Polit Bureau that he did not wish to be a candidate.

However, subsequently the Polit Bureau received differing opinions from the State committee. After evaluating them, it was decided to field him and he could lead the party to a victory with two thirds majority.

On the criticism that he could not project the achievements of the government effectively, the Chief Minister said that the government could carry out several steps to provide relief to the people during the past two years.

The Chief Minister said he would be giving an account of the extent of encroachments and unauthorised buildings taken over by the government at Munnar and elsewhere after the next Cabinet meeting.

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