NEW DELHI: CPI general secretary D Raja has come out with support for CPI leader Annie Raja who criticized the Kerala police. "Wherever there is a fallout from the police anywhere in the country, it will be criticized. The failings of the police should be criticized whether in UP or Kerala. That is the party's position. The police should be friends of the people," Raja told reporters.

Earlier, CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran had rejected Annie Raja's remark that an RSS group was functioning in the state police. Kanam also said that none of the leaders in Kerala had such an opinion and that this has been conveyed to Annie Raja. With Raja's response, it is becoming more evident that Kanam's stance is not the same as that of the party leadership.