THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Senior CPM leader and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said that Fidel Castro was not only a leader of Cuban Communist party, but also the entire Communist movement across the globe. Anti-imperialist struggles across the world drew inspiration from the great leader, who challenged American imperialism at its doorstep.
Referring to Castro’s growth as a mass leader by opposing Batista’s autocratic rule, Pinarayi said: “Castro led his country and its people to the days of progress and development; from the darkness of autocracy to the light of freedom and human rights. Castro cemented the Socialist rule in Cuba surviving the imperialist forces and hundreds of individual threats.” Castro brought Cuba to the path of financial autonomy facing stiff opposition from the United States. The contributions by Castro and Cuba in resisting anti-socialist propaganda during the fall of Soviet Union cannot be ruled out. Standing by the Marxist-Leninist ideologies, he reiterated the Socialist path. He put forth Cuba the symbol of anti-imperialist struggles anywhere in the world.
Pinarayi Vijayan also recalled the warm relation shared between Fidel Castro and former CPM general secretary Harkishan Singh Surjit. Referring to the Kerala link, Pinarayi recalled how during the 90s when Cuba faced difficulties, Kerala lent a helping hand with clothes, medicines and food materials.