THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: “Once upon a time the capitalists in Kerala used to ask the kind of questions that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan recently raised on Mahija’s fast.”
In what could be termed as a direct attack on Pinarayi for criticising Jishnu Pranoy’s mother’s strike as to what she gained from it, Kanam Rajendran has likened Pinarayi’s question to that of capitalists. “Long back the capitalists used to ask such questions.
During trade union struggles, they used to ask workers what did they gain from those protests,” Kanam reminded the Chief Minister.
He was responding to questions on Pinarayi Vijayan’s remarks on Mahija’s strike. Speaking after the Cabinet on Tuesday, Pinarayi had criticised the strike and asked ‘What did they gain from the strike?’ On questions on whether he sees a comparison between Pinarayi Vijayan and the capitalists, Kanam said he did not intend any such meaning.
I don’t need the credit
Replying to Pinarayi Vijayan, who the other day said Kanam had played no role in resolving the Mahija issue, Kanam said he never claimed so. “I never claimed to have played any role in resolving the issue. I don’t need the credit for resolving the issue,” he said.
To questions on Mahija issue, Kanam said he did not speak to the chief minister as he did not want any favour from him.
“I did not contact the CM. I went to meet Mahija after informing and taking consent from his party’s state secretary (Kodiyeri Balakrishnan). I spoke to the CM’s private secretary as well. I view these things politically,” said Kanam.