'Underworld culture': CPI's Kerala neta slams CPM for criminal 'links'

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPI's Kerala secretary Binoy Viswam continued his not-so-veiled criticism of CPM on Sunday by saying that the latter's alleged links with criminal gangs and gold smugglers damaged the Left's reputation and credibility.

Following the LDF rout in Kerala in the Lok Sabha elections where it won just one out of 20 seats, Viswam had openly spoken of the need for the Left to seriously introspect on the defeat and of the need for senior communist leaders to never appear arrogant and to mind their words, an oblique reference to CM Pinarayi Vijayan's tendency to occasionally use harsh language.

"The underworld culture does not belong to the red flag. I am talking about the Communist party, and it is not about CPI. My reaction is on behalf of everyone who has trust in LDF and those who love the Communist party," Viswam said in New Delhi. He said the criticism should not be seen as a personal attack against anyone but a warning considering the damage it has caused to the Communist party.

The stories of criminal gangs and gold heists come from Kannur, Viswam said, adding that there are reports about the underworld nexus. "Thousands of workers had fought in Kayyur and Karivallur to build Communist party in the state. They have shed their blood to build this movement. The underworld culture does not belong to such a party and both CPI, and CPM are firm that such nexus is not entertained."

Viswam disowned the statement from UDF convener M M Hassan that CPI should come out of LDF.