Ravi slams CPI-M's "stand-off" with courts, media

Kottayam, Mar 30 (UNI) Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, Vayalar Ravi today took strong exception to the manner in which the CPI (M) and Kerala Chief Minister were ''threatening'' the courts and the media.

Inaugurating a District Convention of the Congress party here Mr Vayalar Ravi alleged that the CPI(M)-led government was an ''inactive'' one. ''It fails to implement the Cabinet decisions and lacks administrative skills'', he added.

Referring to Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan's charges against leading dailies 'Malayala Manorama' and 'Deepika' he asked, being a leader of the party, which had received foreign money to sabotage the freedom struggle in the country, how he dared to criticise a newspaper like 'Malayala Manorama', which was even older than his party and always stood for democracy and the social and cultural development of the country.

Addressing the meeting, KPCC President Ramesh Chennithala criticised the CPI (M) for giving importance to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the EMS Namboodiripad Government in the state's expenses without celebrating the first anniversary of the V S Achuthanandan Government.

Opposition leader Oommen Chandy and party spokesman M M Hassan also addressed the meeting.

UNI