THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A confrontation between the CPI(M) and the CPI over police excesses has been averted thanks to the mature handling of the issue by both the parties, especially the CPI.
The immediate cause for the escalation of tension between the two parties was the lathi-charge on participants in a protest organised by the CPI in Ernakulam over the police inaction on a number of issues.
The brutal lathi-charge resulted in CPI MLA from Muvattupuzha, Eldo Abraham suffering a fractured arm and serious injuries to two other district office-bearers of the CPI, including CPI’s district secretary P. Raju.
The main grouse of the agitated CPI leaders is that police resorted to lathi-charge despite knowing that the man they were targeting is a CPI MLA. All the three CPI leaders had to be hospitalised, and the unfortunate incident drew all-round flak, forcing the CPI(M) leadership on the defensive.
Not surprisingly, the Opposition parties saw a golden opportunity in the incident to deepen what they called serious differences between the CPI and the CPI(M). Leader of the Opposition in Kerala Assembly, Ramesh Chennithala even went to the extent of urging the CPI to shed its silence and come out openly against the police brutalities.
Expectedly, the mainstream media, which is overwhelmingly anti-Left, made a big splash over the issue, hinting even at the possibility of a break-up of the Left democratic Front (LDF)! Cassandras and prophets of doom went into an overdrive salivating about the ‘imminent parting of ways’ between the two parties.
Their sinister game-plan, however, came a cropper owing to the mature handling of the issue by leaders of the CPI and the CPI(M).
The CPI leadership must get greater credit for defusing the tension through its prompt and firm intervention. CPI State secretary Kanam Rajendran, had a meeting, first with his CPI(M) counterpart, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan. They were joined by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan himself. Kanam, reports say, took strong objection to the brutal lathi-charge, and demanded deterrent action against the guilty policemen.
Realising the gravity of the police offence and the serious of the situation, the CM directed the Ernakulam district collector to submit a report on the incident. Action will be taken on the basis of the report, Vijayan assured Kanam.
It, undoubtedly, was a difficult situation for the CPI leaders. Kanam himself bore the brunt of the criticism, even from within the party, that he had failed to take a tough stand. The CPI State secretary, however, refused to fall into the trap set by the screaming opposition leaders and a section of his own partymen. Biting the opposition’s bait would have amounted to playing into their hands and precipitating a major crisis. To his credit, Kanam ignored the provocative remarks of his detractors and stuck to the correct line of taking up the matter with the CPI(M) leaders without resorting to a public spat.
That said, it must also be stated that the conduct of and arrogant remarks by CPI(M) minister A K Balan were totally uncalled for. Balan reportedly told the CPI leaders at a meeting that if those on the Government’s side agitate and resort to street protests, they will have to face police action! It is a matter of regret that no senior CPI(M)( leader, including the Chief Minister deemed it fit to rebuke the arrogant minister for his shocking comment. The CM also would have done better if he had cared to visit the injured CPI leaders in the hospital.
The CPI leaders did the right thing by refusing to up the ante on the issue. A public spat would have vitiated the atmosphere and aggravated the tension. The days ahead must see greater and close coordination between the CPI and the CPI(M) in view of the six assembly by-elections scheduled to be held soon. The by-elections are of crucial importance for the LDF. A good performance would, to some extent, erase the humiliation the front suffered in the Lok Sabha elections. For that to happen, smooth coordination between the two parties is a must. Therefore, it is of paramount importance that the parties refrain from indulging in a public show of their differences. (IPA Service)
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