IDUKKI: In an interview to Kerala Kaumudi, CPI Iudkki district secretary K K Sivaraman has taken potshots at Minister M M Mani in response to the latter’s comment that the CPM that was criticising the chief minister and home department for the custodial death of financier Rajkumar had better join the Congress and UDF in the protest against the government.

“That man has no clarity about what his own party should do and what the LDF should do. That is why he is speaking like that. Should we give silk shawl and golden bangles to those who detained a person in a police station for four days and barbarously tortured him. Hasn’t the CPM joined hands with the Congress to hold strike in a number of instances?

Now is it right to tell us to side with the Congress just because we protested for a cause that didn’t enjoy their (CPM’s) support? At the national level, the Congress is not an untouchable for the CPM. In the resolution passed by 22nd party Congress of the CPM, it is said that the party can protest in coordination with the Congress in popular issues, inside and outside the Parliament. But we have not gone to join hands with the Congress and we have our own stand.

Still, my opinion is that CPM had flawed in Rajakumar case so that the party is not able to hold their head up in that issue. There is also nothing wrong in saying that the chief minister also faltered in handling the case. Maybe, some people must have misled him. What has happened is completely against the declared police policy of the government. The first action should have been taken against the SP,” he said.

K K Sivaraman also added that Mani was in the habit of saying unnecessary things against the CPI and what he said about Rajkumar was unbecoming of a man holding a top post in the government.