An embarrassed CPI-M in Kerala on Sunday ticked off its senior functionary M. M. Mani over his controversial remarks that there have been instances of the party eliminating its political rivals.
CPI-M state Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan said Mani's speech was a 'deviation' from the party's political line and he had made a 'mistake'.
The remarks by Mani, CPI(M)'s Idukki district secretary, at a public meeting at Thodupuzha, sparked a raging political row in the state with the Congress and BJP saying it exposed the Left party's 'politics of violence'.
In Ahmedabad, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi lashed out at the CPI-M, saying it was using language similar to the one used by terrorists.
"When leader of a political party says that we murder our political rivals, it is dangerous to our democracy. Where is NHRC (National Human Rights Commission)? We should raise our voice against such acts. Our workers keep giving their lives in Kerala," he said.
Mani's remarks has come at a time when the CPI-M in the state is on the defensive after some of its activists were arrested in connection with the murder of party rebel and RMP leader T. P. Chandrasekharan.
Ironically, Mani, known to be close to Vijayan, made the statement at a meeting called to explain to the public that CPI(M) had no role in the Chandrasekharan murder case.
In his sarcasm-laced speech, Mani reminded his audience of how some of the rivals of the party in Idukki district had been eliminated in the past.
As his remarks hit headlines in the local media, Mani clarified that he did not say physically eliminating opponents was the party's line but only meant it had sometimes to put up resistance to threats from opponents.
"What I said was the party had often resisted threats from opponents and in some such instances activists from both sides could have been killed," he said.
Vijayan made a strong call to party cadres, leaders and functionaries to refrain from making controversial statements at a time when the party was under attack from its detractors. Vijayan said the party had grown over the years resisting attacks from various quarters, but countering violence with violence was not the policy of CPI-M.
Slamming the CPI-M, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said this 'disclosure' was a serious matter and legal steps would be taken on it.
State DGP Jacob Punnose directed the Idukki Superintendent of Police to examine Mani's speech and take necessary action in the matter.
"Is Delhi government sleeping and what is Kerala government doing on the issue," Modi remarked.
"This language is same that of terrorists, Maoists and Naxalists," he said.