Prakash Karat says attack at CPI-M office was premeditated

New Delhi, Mar 9 : Strongly condemning the attack at the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) office, the party general secretary, Prakash Karat on Sunday said that the attack by Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) was premeditated.

He further said that after the incident, the BJP and RSS leadership need to introspect. "There was not a single retaliation from our side despite seven of our people died in Kannur. I think the government should see to stop this as soon as possible," Karat told reporters.

It may be recalled that the Bharaitya Janata Party and the RSS have collectively stepped up their offensive against the CPI-M led Left Front Government and the state police charging them with conspiring to eliminate political enemies in Kannur district of Kerala that is considered to be a bastion of the Left parties.

CPI-M politburo member Sitaram Yechury said that the attack described the "very characteristic of the RSS. They are trying to spread the culture of terror in the national capital as they were doing in Kerala."

Blaming the police for "not taking necessary steps to avoid the incident", Yechury alleged, "police was not alert despite an early indication of the attack."

Passing the buck to the CPI-M workers for the violence, RSS spokesperson Ram Madhav said, "Marxist violence is intolerable. Marxists have unleashed a wave of terror and lead a campaign of murder and mayhem."

"We condemn this. We warn the central Government to maintain law and order of else it will lead to serious consequences," Madhav told reporters.

At least 10 CPI-M workers injured and the party office was extensively damaged after the BJP and RSS workers pelted stones. .

Rapid Action Force was immediately deployed in the area. Police lobbed teargas shells to disperse the mob.

The party suspended its Central Committee meeting and decided to hold an urgent politburo meeting to discuss the situation.

Members of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) had staged a demonstration on Saturday in front of the CPI-M headquarters during which police used water canons to disperse the agitating crowd.

The Kannur district of Kerala is witnessing clashes between the CPI-M and BJP-RSS workers and seven lives have been lost since Wednesday.

ANI