'Ill-treatment' of CM delegation: CPM to observe 'protest day'

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CPM state committee on Saturday condemned the way Prime Minister Narendra Modi treated the all-party delegation from the state, which visited him on Thursday. The PM's stand was an insult to the state, said a resolution adopted by the CPM state committee. The state committee also decided to observe a protest day in the coming week against the Centre's attitude. The protest date will be announced soon.


LDF convener A Vijayaraghavan said the PM's action was in violation of the principles of federalism. "The team led by CM Pinarayi Vijayan visited the PM to press for some urgent development needs of the state. The wy they were treated wasn't what they deserved," Vijayaraghavan said.

The resolution of the CPM state committee alleged that the financial powers of the state has been curtailed with the introduction of reforms such as GST. "In such a scenario, the delegation decided to meet the PM and apprise him of the seriousness of the issue. After dissolving the planning commission and hampering the development prospects of the state, the Centre is now implementing policies that will obstruct the state's development," the resolution alleged.

The CPM state committee also gave its nod for the expansion of the LDF. The state committee of the LDF slated to meet here on July 26 is expected to initiate a discussion on it. The CPM panel asked the party leadership to take steps for including long-time allies of the front which are not members of the front now. The INL and the Lok Tantric Party led by MP Veerendra Kumar are set to gain the benefits of the decision immediately. There is another proposal for bringing together splinter groups of the Kerala Congress into the Left front. But the fight among these factions makes even discussions in this regard impossible.