Kerala: CPI (M) hits out at Congress after crude bomb attack on its headquarters

Soon after a team of experts were rushed to the party’s state headquarters to probe the incident, CPI (M) central committee member and convener of Left Democratic Front convenor E P Jayarajan said Congress was behind the attack.

“The bomb attack was a well-planned one. It is a sequel to the recent attacks on the CPI (M) offices by the Congress. It can be seen as a part of converting Congress into a semi-cadre system. CPI (M) workers would not get provoked,” Jayarajan said.

However, Congress state president K Sudhakaran rubbished the claims and said that the attack on AKG centre was scripted by Jayarajan himself. “I won’t blame even CPI(M). Jayarajan is behind that attack. AKG centre has police protection. Will any Congress worker dare hurl explosives there?” he asked.

Sudhakaran added that the attack was planned by CPI (M) to divert people’s attention from the political scandals involving the ruling party. “When Rahul Gandhi is visiting Wayanad on Friday, will any Congress worker attack the CPI (M) office to spoil the day? CPI(M) wanted to divert the attention from Rahul’s visit. Only a person familiar with AKG centre can carry out such an attack,” Sudhakaran stated.

Soon after the incident, hundreds of functionaries of the party, including senior leaders, rushed to the spot to deplore the incident. Party workers took out a march in the state capital, raising slogans against the Congress. The police have stepped up protection for all prominent offices of the CPI (M) and Congress in Kerala, in a bid to prevent a possible streak of attacks and counter attacks. However, Congress district office in Kottayam was hit with stones and the statue of Indira Gandhi in Alappuzha was damaged during the night.

Thiruvananthapuram city police commissioner Sparjan Kumar told the media on Friday that CCTV footage from the premises of AKG centre showed a person on a two-wheeler hurling an object and driving away.

“Efforts are on to identify the vehicle and the assailant. Neither the assailant nor the number of the bike he used could be identified from the CCTV footage. Forensic experts have already visited the area and collected evidence. The type of explosive used can be stated only after examining the item. An assistant commissioner would be probing the incident,” he added.

Ruling CPI (M) and the Opposition Congress have been at loggerheads over the last one month following the allegations of gold smuggling accused Swapna Suresh against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his family members.

Two youth Congress leaders from Kannur had raised slogans against Vijayan on a flight, sparking protests by the CPI (M). Several Congress offices, including KPCC headquarters, were targeted in Kerala as a sequel to sloganeering against the CM. Congress also retorted by attacking CPI (M) offices in party citadel Kannur.

Last week, Rahul Gandhi’s office was attacked in Wayanad by SFI members in protest against his alleged inaction in addressing farmers’ concerns in the latest directive on fixing the boundary of eco-sensitive zones for protected forest areas. Following the attack, Congress and CPI(M) workers had clashed in many parts of the state.