During a five-minute press conference here on Sunday in which he refused to entertain any questions from the media, a grim-faced CPi(M) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan said it was “wrong on comrade M.M. Mony’s part to have spoken like this”.
Mr Pinarayi said, “The things that comrade Mony spoke in the stylised manner of a speech deviated from the party line.” He, however, seemed more concerned about the timing of the utterances than its contents. “Enemies of the party have swooped down on us and are feasting on the party. In such a situation, party workers should desist from making such controversial statements,” he said.
The state secretary then re-issued the gag order. “A directive to avoid public comments was issued earlier. If it happens, our enemies will latch on to it to malign us. No such statements should be made in future.”
Though Mr Pinarayi did not directly refer to Mr Mony’s claim, he sought to distance the party from the bloody history exhumed by his comrade. He said the party had not answered violence with violence.
“Every time it was subjected to violent attacks, the party had succeeded in lining up huge public support in its favour. The attackers were isolated as a result.”
He even painted the CPI(M) as the victim of oppression, saying support for it swelled with every attack against it.
“I don’t think a party could be destroyed through violence and killings. If that was so, the CPI(M) would have been destroyed a long time ago,” he said.
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DGP: Reopen 3 murder cases
Kochi: Director-general of prosecutions K. Asaf Ali has reportedly given an advice to the government to reopen at least three murder cases in Idukki, reports our correspondent. Sources said the government sought his opinion immediately after the revelation. The DGP, who is out of the state, would have a detailed examination of the cases once he arrives.
Though the three cases had been closed, the government had no legal hurdle in reopening the cases, the DGP reportedly pointed out to the government.