RMP, CPM to observe Onchiyam martyrs day

KOZHIKODE: Both the CPM and the breakaway RMP have lined up various programmes on May 4, the fifth anniversary of T.P. Chandrasekharan murder triggering fears of violence. The RMP, floated by TP, has planned a week-long campaign to commemorate his martyrdom, beginning at Onchiyam on April 30 with the ‘Onchiyam Martyrs’ Day’ on Sunday. It was on May 4, 2012, that a seven-member gang of assailants brutally killed him at Vallikkadu near Onchiyam. Even after death, he is mightier than any other CPM stalwarts here, say his followers.

RMP is now a national party merging with many splinter Marxist groups and changing its name to RMPI, or Revolutionary Marxist Party of India. RMPI leader N. Venu told DC that the party had already conducted several programmes in connection with his martyrdom. "The importance of this year’s observance is that now RMP is not the fledgeling party he founded but a national party with workers in 14 states," he said. “Another importance is that the murderers are now rulers and those convicted assassins have their patronage.” He said CPM had already started unleashing terror on RMP workers and destroying their flex boards and posters. However, CPM is very much serious on the Onchiyam martyrs' day observance. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate their programme on April 30. With the two camps on face to face, Onchiyam has been witnessing violence for the last few days.