THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former minister and senior CPM leader M M Mani’s remarks against Vadakara MLA K K Rema had stoked a controversy lately. The opposition had created a ruckus in the house on Friday demanding an apology from Mani. Meanwhile, CPI leaders have expressed their opinion against Mani’s statement.

When the opposition created a commotion in the house over Mani’s insulting remarks, CPI’s E K Vijayan, who was in the chair, opined that Mani’s remarks should not have been made. He made the comments to a nearby official. Senior CPI leader Binoy Viswam also responded in a similar way. However, CPM leaders said that there is nothing wrong in Mani’s statement. There is no need for Mani to apologize, said politburo member A Vijayaraghavan.

Meantime, Mani said that he stands by his remarks against Rema in the assembly. Mani, who said that Rema had been defaming the chief minister for over a year, reiterated that he was not sorry for his remarks. “None of you reacted when K K Rema defamed the chief minister for all this time. It was the opposition who first said that she is a widow. In response, I said that it’s her fate that she had become a widow. I don’t think that what I said was wrong. The believers are the ones who find it wrong. I’m not a believer. No one has any special privilege in the assembly”, said Mani.