Peravoor (Kannur): Senior CPM leader K K Shailaja on Thursday dismissed allegations raised by former party veteran G Sudhakaran regarding the demolition of a statue of communist leader P Krishna Pillai in Alappuzha. She also condemned the alleged derogatory remarks made against MLA U Pratibha. Responding to TOI regarding Sudhakaran’s claim hinting that minister Saji Cherian had a role in the demolition of Pillai’s statue years ago, Shailaja questioned the timing and intent behind the allegation. “G Sudhakaran was part of this party for so many years, and the incident he refers to happened long ago. Why is he coming out with such claims only after leaving the party?” she asked. Shailaja said it was reasonable to suspect that the allegations were politically motivated and linked to his CPM exit. Her remarks come amid a simmering political row in Alappuzha over the alleged demolition of the statue, an issue that has resurfaced following Sudhakaran’s statements during an interview with a news channel. Regarding the controversy over the alleged derogatory comments against U Pratibha, Shailaja said that such remarks against any woman are unacceptable. “The general stand is clear: no such comments should be made against any woman. The remarks made are not just defamatory, but criminal in nature,” she said. However, when asked whether CPM took similar action in past instances when women leaders like K K Rema or Ramya Haridas were targeted, Shailaja said it was not appropriate to counter a specific issue by citing other incidents. “It is not the approach to respond to a particular issue by bringing up other arguments,” she said. The statements come at a time when both the internal dissent within CPM and allegations of political targeting have intensified in the run-up to the assembly elections, with leaders trading charges over past incidents and conduct.
