Pinarayi disowns remarks of Mani

TIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday disowned the controversial  statement made by the party’s Idukki district secretary M M Mani.In a press meet held at the party headquarters here, Pinarayi Vijayan said Mani’s  statement deviates from the party’s stand and he had committed a mistake by stating so. In the press meet which concluded in less than 10 minutes, Pinarayi refused to entertain any questions or offer clarifications.He did not elaborate on the controversial part of the statement by Mani that “the party had listed its opponents before eliminating them” in a meeting  held at Thodupuzha on Saturday. Reiterating the party stand,  the CPM state secretary wanted the party leaders to stop making open statements.  “When our enemies are trying to chop down the party, any statements made by leaders will be used only against the party. At this juncture, that will create unnecessary controversies. Hence, the party leaders must avoid making open statements. The party men are requested to be alert and prevent enemies from attacking us,” Pinarayi said.“No party will be allowed to be massacred by enemies. Over the years the CPM has grown not by eliminating the enemies but by countering with the mass movement  when targeted by opponents. Countering with violence was not the policy of the CPM,” he said. He said Mani himself had later clarified about his controversial statement.