The CPI(M) has served show-cause notices to its leaders accused in the Sabarimala gold theft case, CPI(M) general secretary M.A. Baby confirmed in an exclusive interview with THE WEEK. He also said that the party has decided that the accused should not participate in election campaign activities or any party programmes until their innocence is established.
The CPI(M) commenced its internal disciplinary action after A. Padmakumar—former president of the Travancore Devaswom Board—was released from jail after being granted bail in the case.
The CPI(M) general secretary added that once the charge sheet is filed, further action will be taken depending on the gravity of the charges against the accused leaders and their response to the show-cause notices.
Speaking to THE WEEK, Baby also claimed that the party had taken the correct decisions in the gold theft case. “First of all, the entire investigation is moving forward under the supervision of a special bench of the Kerala High Court. The government is not interfering in the investigation process. This has been categorically stated by the special bench overseeing matters related to Sabarimala. That, in fact, goes to the credit of the Pinarayi Vijayan government,” he said.
The communist leader added that during the local body elections, a parody song was widely circulated by the UDF and the Congress linking the party with the main accused, Unnikrishnan Potti.
“Now it has been clearly established that he gained access to Sabarimala during the period when the UDF was in power,” he said.
Baby also said that the Kerala government was willing to discuss every aspect of the Sabarimala issue on the Assembly floor. “However, under the leadership of V. D. Satheesan, the Opposition walked out, saying they did not want a discussion. The question is—why did they refuse to discuss the matter?
“Now, if those associated with the CPI(M), who held certain responsibilities in Sabarimala, are found guilty, they will be removed from the party without anyone even demanding it,” he said.
In the interview, Baby also responds to questions on whether the CPI(M) is reconsidering its earlier stance on women’s entry to Sabarimala, why the party has decided to field more incumbents this time, and whether the two-term policy has been put on the back burner. He also speaks about factional tendencies within the party, especially in strongholds such as Payyannur and Palakkad.
The full interview will be uploaded on THE WEEK website soon.
