THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said that the CPM is not a party that protects criminals. He was responding to a media query about allegations raised on social media in connection with the gold smuggling case.

"You need to look at the CPM's approach in this regard and not at any individual. The CPM is a party of millions of people. It has different kinds of people in it. CPM is not a party that supports any kind of crime or criminals. If any persons carry out activities that are not in the interest of the party, the party will intervene according to the seriousness of the offense. There have been many such incidents in Kerala. The party will not protect those who do wrong in any way," the CM said.

"The state government will not support any sort of criminal activity. Most of the people in our society have a political opinion. They don't have to be the main activists or leaders of any party. They might express their political opinion. However, that does not affect the government to take action for their wrongdoings," he said.

"If someone has indulged in any crime, the government will take necessary action against such culprits. We have taken appropriate action," he said.

When asked about certain accused persons in the case who have been supporters of his party, Vijayan said they were not official spokespersons of the CPI(M).

"Those who post on Facebook or other social media are not official party spokespersons. They are expressing their personal opinion. That is not the party's responsibility. The party has already made its stand clear," Vijayan said.

He said the CPI(M) will not support any crime and the party has always led by example and expelled those who have indulged in wrongdoings, even though those people have worked selflessly for the party.