The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] on Monday accused Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State president Rajeev Chandrasekhar of venting his ire on journalists to avoid “discomfitting” questions concerning the death by suspected suicide of his party’s Thirumala ward councillor, K. Anil Kumar and demanded a public apology from the leader for his “feudal attempts at bullying and intimidation”.
CPI(M) district secretary V. Joy said Mr. Anil Kumar’s widow and their two daughters had strongly expressed their displeasure with the party leadership when Mr. Chandrasekhar and BJP district president Karamana Jayan called on the sorrowing family on Sunday.
“A furious Mr. Chandrasekhar hurried to Sivagiri, where he announced a press conference. He vented his anger about the internal crisis engulfing his party by criticising the woman journalist who questioned the circumstances surrounding the veteran BJP leader’s suicide. “Does he treat journalists in the news channel he owns in the same demeaning manner?” he asked.
CPI(M) State committee member and General Education Minister V. Sivankutty alleged that Mr. Chandrasekhar always added an element of physical threat to his statements. BJP workers had attacked journalists reporting Mr. Anil Kumar’s death.
