ALAPPUZHA/KOCHI: The second largest partner in Kerala's ruling Left Democratic Front has told the alliance not to "ape Narendra Modi."
The Communist Party of India [CPI] is displeased with the police action against Maoists in Nilambur in Malappuram on Thursday which led to the death of two rebels. The party said, “People did not elect the Left Democratic Front [LDF] to ape Narendra Modi.”
Kanam Rajendran, the state secretary of the CPI, said killing of Maoists was not warranted in a state like Kerala. "There are many working for the rights of tribal people and Dalits. It is time to examine their slogans. Instead of giving an ear to them,it is not fit for a civilised society to silence those who raise their voice. Nobody has the right to kill those who air their opinion. The situation in Kerala is different from North Indian states. Such brutality in the name of curbing Maoism is totally unacceptable to Kerala,” he said.
The CPI has been at odds with the senior partner in the ruling coalition, CPM, in recent weeks. CPI leaders have been locked in a verbal battle with the CPM's M M Mani days before his ascension as power minister. This reached a flashpoint after the CPI mouthpiece Janayugam published an article sharply criticising the minister, stating that Mani's speech reflected his political ignorance. The article in Janayugam pointed out that Mani spoke against two ministers of the CPI because they are acting against the land mafia in the state.
Mani had criticised revenue minister E Chandrashekharan and agriculture minister V S Sunil Kumar that they do not have a clue of what was happening in his district, Idukki.