Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala’s outspoken minister, M.M. Mani, has invited the wrath of leaders across the political spectrum for his harsh comments against an Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer who has been taking a series of actions against encroachers in the state’s hilly Munnar area.
In the process, the Communist Party of India Marxist (CPI-M) minister has also deepened the divide between his party and its ruling coalition partner the Communist Party of India (CPI). The CPI has been pushing for stringent action against all encroachers.
The minister’s ire against the Devikulam sub-collector Sriram Venkitaraman came after the officer conducted a series of demolitions of constructions on encroached land, including a steel cross put up at Pappathi Chola, allegedly by a Christian group called ‘Spirit in Jesus’
Mani alleged that the officer was playing into the hands of communal forces by demolishing the cross at Pappathi Chola, and said “he ought to be sent to an asylum”.
Mani has earlier attracted controversy by stating at a public meeting that the CPI-M cadres had murdered several political opponents after making a list of those to be eliminated.
The minister’s statement against the officer drew wide condemnation in Kerala political circles. “Those who make such statements should keep in mind that their place will be in the dustbin of history,” said senior CPI leader Panniyan Ravindran.
The CPI handles the revenue portfolio in the Left Democratic Front government, and the party is keen to evict all encroachers. In contrast, the CPM leaders have been seen to soft pedal the issue of encroachments in Munnar.
Senior Congress leader and former Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president, V.M. Sudheeran said Mani’s statement was “shameful”.
“He crossed all limits of decency and courtesy. The state has been put in a situation where it feels embarrassed that it has a minister like this,” Sudheeran said.
The Youth Congress also condemned Mani’s statement, arguing that it was Mani who needed psychiatric treatment.
Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said it was up to chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan to decide whether or not to retain a minister like Mani in his cabinet.
