Idukki: Despite facing criminal charges for his controversial speech stating that CPI-M had eliminated its foes in the past, the party`s Idukki district secretary MM Mani on Sunday ruled out resigning from the organisational post.
After keeping away from the public eye for the last few days, Mani turned up today before the media and struck an aggressive posture, maintaining that there was no question of his quitting the party post unless it was so decided by the party at the highest level.
He also refuted reports of having gone into hiding after police booked a case against him for his speech last week at Thodupuzha where he said CPI-M had prepared a list and eliminated three rivals in Idukki district in the 1980s.
"I have been in politics for over four decades. I do not consider the present controversy as a big issue. We will face it legally and politically", he said.
Police had yesterday pasted the notice issued to Mani asking him to appear for questioning before the SIT at his residence and the party`s district committee office.
A case had been registered against Mani last week on charges of murder, abetment and concealing information based on his speech at Thodupuzha.
Meanwhile, CPI state secretary Panniyan Raveendran said Mani`s speech was a `slur` on the Communist movement.
"Communists are humanists. A Communist cannot say that he prepared a list of political enemies and eliminated them," he told a Malayalam news channel.
PTI
