CPI has no right to criticise me, says Karunakaran

Staff Reporter

'Will not rejoin Congress as long as Sonia is chief'

KOCHI: Democratic Indira Congress (Karunakaran) leader K. Karunakaran has criticised Communist Party of India leader Veliyam Bhargavan for his outburst against the DIC(K) in the interests of relations within the LDF.

Talking to reporters here on Saturday, he said the CPI, which had associated with him for over 10 years, had no right to criticise him at this juncture.

Mr. Karunakaran said he would not think of returning to the Congress fold as long as Sonia Gandhi remained the party president.

He said the Congress had lost its secular credentials. People had lost all hope in the party, he said.

Ms. Gandhi was not interested in protecting the party, Mr. Karunakaran said.

He said discussions about admitting the DIC(K) into the LDF were on. He said his party was ready for any adjustment to gain entry into the LDF.

Mr. Karunakaran said Chief Minister Oommen Chandy's decision to go on leave was "strange." There was no precedence for such a step, he said.

He said the DIC(K)'s political aim was to oust the UDF from power in order to protect the people of the State.

Asked whether the presence of the DIC(K) in the Malabar region would affect the hold of the Indian Union Muslim League there, Mr. Karunakaran said the DIC(K) had a strong presence not only in Malabar, but across the State.

DIC(K) district president K.B. Mohammedkutty was also present.
(The Hindu-06/02/06, Sunday)