Stop propaganda against Sonia, Chennithala tells CPI(M)

Congress Working Committee member Ramesh Chennithala has called upon the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] to stop immediately what he termed a baseless and malicious propaganda campaign against Congress leader Sonia Gandhi in Kerala.

Ms. Gandhi is a leader who commands deep respect among prominent CPI(M) national figures, from Harkishan Singh Surjeet to Sitaram Yechury, Mr. Chennithala said in a statement on Friday.

He recalled that during the formation of the first UPA government in 2004, the earliest and strongest support for Sonia Gandhi came from the then CPI(M) general secretary Harkishan Singh Surjeet.

He also noted that Sitaram Yechury shared a close and cordial relationship with both Ms. Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

The Congress leader alleged that the nature of the attacks being carried out by CPI(M) leaders against Ms. Gandhi was so reprehensible that it mirrored the tactics usually adopted by the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Sangh Parivar.

He said CPI(M) all-India general secretary M.A. Baby had conveyed his displeasure over the issue to the State’s party leadership. Disregarding the views of the party’s national leadership, State CPI(M) leaders, including V. Sivankutty, continued to level unfounded allegations against Ms. Gandhi.

He accused the CPI(M) of attempting to drag Ms. Gandhi into the Sabarimala gold theft case in a desperate move to shield the party’s image, which, he said, had been severely damaged by the controversy.

Such actions amounted to political bankruptcy, Mr. Chennithala said, adding that the CPI(M) was resorting to diversionary propaganda after the exposure of alleged irregularities, including accusations related to the misuse of martyrdom funds.

He warned that the Congress would not remain a mute spectator if the CPI(M) leadership sought to gain political advantage by maligning Ms. Gandhi.

If the CPI(M) continued with politically motivated allegations against her, the people of the country would deliver a strong and fitting response, Mr. Chennithala said.