Achuthanandan hits back at Pinarayi

Thiruvananthapuram, May 24 (UNI) A day after CPI(M) Kerala secretary Pinarayi Vijayan accused him of not maintaining ''minimum decency necessary between comrades,' Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan today lashed out at his arch rival in the party, saying that the same principle was applicable to Mr Vijayan also.

Mr Achuthanandan's reply came at a hurriedly convened press conference at his official residence Cliff House before leaving for New Delhi to participate in the crucial two-day politburo meeting beginning tomorrow.

The verbal duel between the two senior politburo members from the state came out in the open yesterday, with Mr Achuthanandan alleging that those who spoke of the existence of a ''media syndicate'' in Kerala were themselves leaking out information about the party deliberations to the media.

Later, Mr Vijayan came out strongly against the Chief Minister, saying that a politburo member should not create a situation where another politburo member was put under suspicion.

Mr Achuthanandan's first reaction on factionalism at today's press conference was that there was no rift between him and the party secretary as reported in the media.

It was only an attempt to tarnish the image of the government which had taken several bold initiatives during the past one year, he said addingthat such attempts would not succeed.

Mr Achuthanandan reacted sharply to Mr Vijayan's statement that he had not maintained minimum decency necessary between the comarades. Referring to the disciplinary action being taken against his loyalists in various districts, Mr Achuthanandan said the politburo received several complaints and he was hopeful that it would be discussed at the meeting beginning from tomorrow.

Asked whether he still stuck to the stand that certain people were leaking out party deliberations to the press, he said though he had no opinion that there existed a media syndicate in Kerala, it was a fact that deliberations in the LDF meet were leaked out to the press regularly.

The Chief Minister said poor people residing in five or ten cents of government land would not be evicted as part of the demolition drive being carried out all over the state. Strict instructions had been given to officials, who issued eviction notice to thousands of poor people not to target weaker sections of the society.

''Such a step was taken by certain officials to defame the government and divert attention from the present drive against big encroachers. Action would be taken against such officials,'' he added.

UNI