CPM plans fast at 1,400 centres

Thiruvananthapuram: The CPM will observe a fast in every Assembly constituency from January 15 to demand the immediate rollback of LPG prices.

CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan told reporters  that the fast would be observed in 10 centres in every  Assembly constituency. One person each will observe the  fast in 1,400 centres. The family members of the fasting person  will also hold similar  protest in the subsequent days.

He said the centre had hiked the prices of LPG to help big companies like Reliance and SR. Union petroleum minister Veerappa Moily  said that the prices cannot be rolled back at any cost and this clearly indicated that the centre was safeguarding the interests of big corporates and not of the common man.

He lashed out at a section of the media in connection with the  sale of  Deshabhimani building and land. He said the property was not sold to controversial businessman  Chakku Radhakrishnan and added  that the entire deal was discussed in the party and finalised.

“We gave proper advertisement and all procedures were followed while selling the property. Do you think such falsehood will be digested by the people? The people know the CPM and Deshabhimani and they will see through the attempt to tarnish the image of the party,’’ he said.

He challenged the media to come out with documents to prove the allegations. When asked about K.R. Gowriamma’s claim that she was offered the chief minister’s post by the LDF ahead of the 2006 Assembly polls, Pinarayi said all such reports were baseless. “Do you think the LDF will ever extend an offer to a leader who does not even belong to the party or the front ? This is baseless,’’ he said.