Chennai, Sep 22 (PTI) CPI Tamil Nadu state secretary M Veerapandian on Tuesday hit out at Minister Aadhav Arjuna over his corruption remarks, asking him to study the Communist party’s century-old history before making public statements.
Underscoring what he described as his party’s clean track record, Veerapandian said that in its 100-year history, no Communist leader in India had been convicted of corruption by a court or faced a corruption case registered at a police station.
Clarifying the party’s stance, Veerapandian told reporters in Madurantakam, where a bypoll is scheduled for October 6, that the CPI’s support for the current government was a democratic decision taken in the public interest.
He said the party had no intention of destabilising the government and would stand with the common people, while raising its voice or staging protests if the government deviated from its principles.
“Such a clean record is rare or even absent in historical, religious and literary texts such as the Bible and the Puranas, which society holds in high regard,” Veerapandian said, highlighting what he described as the CPI’s moral integrity.
His remarks came days after the Public Works and Sports minister asked the Left parties to speak up about corruption during the previous DMK regime.
On the party’s relationship with the current TVK administration, Veerapandian said the decision to extend outside support was taken democratically in the public interest and to prevent governor’s rule in the state.
He dismissed speculation about political instability, saying the Left parties had no intention of toppling the government.
“Our primary commitment remains with the poor and the common people, not with any government,” Veerapandian said, adding that the party would not hesitate to raise its voice or stage protests if the administration deviated from its principles or created a crisis.
He further said the party’s collective decision-making body, not any individual, would decide whether to continue or withdraw support. PTI JSP SSK
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.