THRISSUR: Comunist Confederation of India chairman and Party for Democratic Socialism general secretary Saifeuddin Chowdhary caused embarrassment to the Communist Marxist Party leaders here by stating that the Congress Party should sever its relations with all religious parties.
When the media persons asked him whether he considered the Indian Union of Muslim League, which is a constituent of the Opposition UDF in Kerala, a religious party, he answered in the affirmative and said that IUML is also a religious party.
Later when media persons drew the attention of CMP general secretary M V Raghavan to the statement of Chowdhary, Raghavan said that if Chowdhary had said so, it is his personal view in the matter.
He said that the view expressed by Chowdhary is neither that of the Confederation nor of the CMP.
Raghavan pointed out that the CMP viewed IUML and Kerala Congress as minority secular parties.
He said that the firm stand that the Muslim League and the Kerala Congress are minority secular parties taken by him was one of the important reasons that led to his quitting the CPM and organising the Communist Marxist Party in the state.