CPM tolerance claim goes bust

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A week has passed since police registered a case against CPM Kalamassery area secretary Zakir Hussain on the charges of abducting and intimidating a businessman, but the party leadership is yet to take any action against him. The delay has put the CPM claim of zero tolerance policy towards party leaders indulging in corruption and anti social activities under the scanner. The plenum held in Kolkata in December had categorically spelt the policy towards corruption.  “People wanted politics to be cleansed of money power, corruption and criminalisation and the party should not compromise at all if the charges of corruption, financial misappropriation and real estate business are found to be true against leaders.”

The CPM has also come under pressure after the Congress suspended Maradu municipality vice chairman Antony Asanparambil and Councillor Jinson Peter because of their alleged links with the goondas. The action was taken by the DCC on the directions of KPCC. CPM Ernakulam district secretary P Rajeev, however, refuted the allegation that party was going ‘soft’ on Zakir Hussain. “Our district secretariat is meeting on November 4 in the presence of state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan. We have decided to inquire all allegations. If he is found guilty there is no question of showing any leniency,” he said.

The CPM district secretary said the party followed a process in such matters. “Party can only take a decision after examining the issues,” he said. Political observers say the delay in action would  only prove Plenum observations were correct. “There are instances of reluctance or hesitation in investigating complaints of corruption and misuse of positions in the party or mass fronts which involve persons in leadership positions,” it had pointed out. But Mr Rajeev says critics would be proved wrong. “We will uphold the spirit and direction of the Plenum on such matters,” he said.