Former chief minister VS Achuthanandan, who is at loggerheads with the Kerala unit of the CPI(M) on various issues, on Friday slammed the party leadership for asking the judiciary to restrain the media in a murder case.
The case concerns the killing of rebel CPI(M) worker TP Chandrasekharan, who was murdered on May 4.
“It is not a right step to approach the court against the media. I can’t endorse such a decision,” he said in Kozhikode. The party had moved the Kerala high court on Wednesday to initiate contempt proceedings against a section of the media for publishing details of the murder investigation.
He also criticised party leaders who threatened officers investigating the case.
“Threatening police officials is not the policy of the party. At this juncture, all should co-operate with the probe to bring the accused before the law,” he said, adding that the Chandrasekharan murder probe was proceeding in the right direction.
The police have booked CPI(M) state secretariat member and former minister Elamaram Kareem for threatening a key member of the special investigation team (SIT). He had threatened the police officer by saying that the Congress-led UDF would not rule the state for ever and officials who toed the government line blindly would have to pay a heavy price.
Soon after Achuthanandan’s opposition to the party line was announced, state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan defended the CPI(M) on both issues. “It is not a move to curb media freedom. But it is against a slanderous campaign to defame the party,” he said, adding the party moved court in accordance with the guidelines of the Supreme Court.
{{/usCountry}}Soon after Achuthanandan’s opposition to the party line was announced, state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan defended the CPI(M) on both issues. “It is not a move to curb media freedom. But it is against a slanderous campaign to defame the party,” he said, adding the party moved court in accordance with the guidelines of the Supreme Court.
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