CPI(M) slams Congress over Thalassery riots row

Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] State secretariat member M.V. Jayarajan on Sunday (March 1, 2026) accused the Congress of twisting the history of the 1970 Thalassery riots to “whitewash the RSS,” stating that the Justice Vithayathil Commission had clearly held the Jana Sangh and its affiliate, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), responsible.

He was responding to a statement by United Democratic Front (UDF) leaders Sajeev Maroli and K.A. Latheef, who, during a press meet, asserted that U.K. Kunhiraman of Koothuparamba was not a victim of the Thalassery riots and described Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s recent speech at Parapram as “factually incorrect and a gross distortion of history.”

Addressing the media in Kannur, he said the riots that erupted in Thalassery on December 28, 1970, took place when Congress leader K. Karunakaran held the Home portfolio. He alleged that Karunakaran had described the violence as a “political riot instigated by Marxists” after visiting the town, a claim Jayarajan called a “blatant lie” that Congress leaders are now reviving.

Referring to the Justice Joseph Vithayathil Commission report, Jayarajan said the panel had highlighted the role of the Jana Sangh and cited the works of Balraj Madhok and Kuldeep Nayar to show the organisational links between the RSS and the Jana Sangh. He added that the report documented how minority homes and places of worship were specifically targeted, properties were looted, and provided evidence of the RSS’s involvement in the violence.

He maintained that the Commission had made it clear that CPI(M) leaders were travelling in a flag-draped vehicle on December 29, 1970, appealing for peace and urging an end to the riots. Congress leaders, he alleged, were ignoring these findings and selectively quoting portions of the report to blame the CPI(M).

Mr. Jayarajan also rejected the Congress claim that the killing of U.K. Kunhiraman was unrelated to the riots. He cited the testimony of former Mangattidam Congress president K.P. Abooty before the Commission and said Kunhiraman and others had guarded the Meruvambayi mosque to prevent its destruction. Kunhiraman was later killed while returning home, he said, alleging that RSS workers were behind the attack.

According to Jayarajan, CPI(M) workers had responded to the party’s call to defend communal harmony and protect minority institutions during the unrest. He said that among those who travelled in the vehicle appealing for peace was the present Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. He added that representatives of the Parappuram Muslim Jamaat had recently honoured the Chief Minister in recognition of his role during the riots.

The CPI(M) leader further alleged that when the Home department was under Congress control, party workers were falsely implicated based on lists provided by Congress leaders. He said that the CPI(M) had at one point refused to cooperate with the Commission, expecting that the then administration would not deliver justice, but stressed that the Commission had still held the Jana Sangh responsible.

Accusing the Congress of attempting to target minorities and of trying to win RSS votes by reshaping the narrative of the riots, Mr. Jayarajan said the public would recognise what he called political envy and misinformation directed against the Left front.