With CPM central committee meetings turning sessions to be concluded with V S Achuthanandan bashing these days, the latest action against the veteran leader has once again created interest in the political circles. His latest act which provoked the party central leadership was his criticism of general secretary Prakash Karat’s line on Koodankulam nuclear plant issue and his refusal to toe the party’s official line of not opposing the plant.
The ‘breach of discipline’ being thrust upon VS by his opponents in the party has not been news these days. It was in June last that the central committee censured him publicly and demanded an open admission of his follies and expression of regret.
VS’ visit to Koodankualm in defiance of the party line and his criticism of Prakash Karat may have provoked the party to censure him again, but VS could save his chair by pleading that as he was raising the apprehensions of millions of people. As usual, he stands gained from raising the issue. Speaking to mediapersons in New Delhi after attending the central committee meeting, he said what he had raised was an issue concerning six crore people of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and even Sri Lanka. However, VS could score another point by forcing the central committee to adopt a resolution on the basis of his letter calling for the government to ensure safety measures at the plant. It has also called for an inspection by an independence agency. The resolution also asked the government not to suppress the anti-nuclear plant agitators. The fact being that, the party cannot initiate any serious action against Achuthanandan. Responding to a query on what could be the future course of action of VS, communist ideologue Berlin Kunhananthan Nair said that VS would continue to move ahead fighting for the people’s cause.
Coming down heavily on the state and central leadership of the CPM, Berlin said in his characteristic style that Prakash Karat was presiding over the liquidation of the CPM. ‘’VS was being censured with deliberate enmity. Why they (CPM leadership) did not censure Buddhadeb Bhattacharya who had been keeping away from attending the PB and central committee meetings for the last two years?’’ he asked.
Revolutionary Marxist Party (RMP) secretary N Venu said that while censuring VS in June, the CPM leadership had said that it was the last chance for VS. But now, once again they limit their action to censure as they did not want to face the wrath of the people, he said.
He said that the CPM had failed to understand that the approach to the nuclear plants had changed all over the world in the past 25 years and the CPM’s stand was not helpful to the people.