CPI direct action for Mani’s ouster

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even as the CPM has adopted  a rather ‘soft’ approach towards the bribe charges against Finance Minister K.M. Mani, the CPI has decided to launch an agitation to seek his ouster with a secretariat march on November 12.

At a press conference here,  CPI state secretary Pannyan Raveendran pointed out that when an ordinary man faced bribery charges the law enforcing agencies acted swiftly, but not so when a top politician was in the dock. The people of the state expected  the LDF to take up the issue and there was already a criticism regarding the settlement agitation, he added.

“We have failed to arrive at a common understanding on the agitation and I admit that there was a lapse on our part,’’ he said and added that the LDF meeting on November 12 was expected to come out with a common stand. He also differed with the CPM on the question of probing the Chief Minister and the Excise Minister in connection with the bribe issue.  

“At the moment, the specific allegation before us is Biju Ramesh’s revelation that bribe was paid to Mani. The priority should be given to probing the primary allegation, and the role of the Chief Minister and the Excise Minister can be taken up at a later stage,’’ he said.  Mr Pannyan also preferred a judicial probe rather than a court- monitored SIT investigation demanded by the CPM.

He  rejected Mr Pinarayi’s view that the doors of LDF were closed for the RSP and the SJD. “These parties have been with us, we have protested together, got beaten up and   even gone to jail. Even they are feeling suffocated in the UDF,’’ he said referring to the prospects of the RSP and the SJD’s return to the LDF.

On Mr Pinarayi’s criticism of the CPI state secretary for informing the media about his letter to the LDF convenor seeking a front meeting, Mr Pannayan said that the CPM leader might have responded in that fashion because of your mischievous question.