CPI-M hits back at Achuthandan

New Delhi/Thiruvanthapuram, March 22: The CPI-M on Sunday pulled up former Kerala chief minister V.S. Achuthandan for walking out of a party meeting in the state. CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat said the 91-year-old did a wrong with his protest walkout from the 21st state party conference at Alappuzha last month. Addressing reporters after a two-day meeting in New Delhi, Karat said that the party took up Achuthandan’s letter written to them on March 6. “Some of the points he raised were discussed and settled. Other issues were discussed at the state conference. Whatever be his reasons, there is no justification in walking out of the state conference,” he said. Karat said the party’s Politburo Commission would look into the issues. Achuthandan’s walkout happened after a resolution of the Communist Party of India-Marxist accused him of having an “anti-party attitude”. He then came under flak from speaker after speaker for breaching party discipline. On Sunday, a peeved Achuthandan got angry in New Delhi when jourlists repeatedly sought his opinion on what happened in the party meeting. “Karat has told you what happened and I have already told you in clear Malayalam that I will respond tomorrow. Don’t you understand it?” he said curtly. Despite requests from the party leadership including Karat to return and take part in the public meeting at the end of the Kerala conclave, Achuthandan remained defiant and chose to stay away. (IANS)