Kayalode suicide: CPI(M) trying to divert attention from local protests, alleges SDPI leader

The Hindu

4 hours ago

SDPI State General Secretary K.K. Abdul Jabbar has alleged that the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] is attempting to cover up public outrage in Dharmadam over the suicide of a young married woman by spreading misinformation and making baseless insinuations. He accused CPI(M) district secretary K.K. Ragesh of deflecting blame instead of seeking justice for the victim, whose parents are reportedly party supporters.
'Instead of helping the grieving family, the CPI(M) is hiding behind the argument of a moral trial to justify their complicity in wrongdoing,' he said at a press conference in Kannur on Sunday (June 22).
He further criticised Mr. Ragesh for what he described as a 'hypocritical lecture on morality', calling it absurd given the party's history of political violence.
Referring to past 'political killings', Mr. Jabbar drew parallels with the Ariyil Shukoor and T.P. Chandrasekharan cases, accusing the CPI(M) of adopting 'Stalinist tactics' and turning mob justice into a political tool. 'Mr. Ragesh talks of the legal system as if the party ever respected it,' he added.
The SDPI leader condemned the alleged attempts by the CPI(M) to associate his party with religious extremism and accused them of echoing the language of the Sangh Parivar.
'Equating SDPI with the Sangh Parivar is not just misleading but dangerous. It shows the kind of political compromise happening within the CPI(M),' he said. He strongly refuted Mr. Ragesh's claims that the SDPI is anti-women.
'Of the 14 local body representatives of SDPI in Kannur, eight are women. These are not the actions of an anti-women organisation,' he stated. Mr. Jabbar also slammed alleged attempts to portray a public discussion involving the deceased woman's family members and local leaders as a 'moral trial.'
'The gathering included relatives of both the young woman and the man involved, local Mahal office-bearers, and leaders from the Congress and Indian Union Muslim League. Twisting this into a secret mob trial is politically motivated,' he said.
He demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who also handles the Home portfolio, for allegedly failing to protect the rights and dignity of the victim.
The SDPI also announced plans to organise a public event to counter what they called the CPI(M)'s propaganda and to present what they claimed were the real facts of the case.