Kochi: CPI-M state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday night termed as illegal the Kerala government`s decision to register a case against MM Mani for his controversial speech stating that the Left party had eliminated at least three of its political foes.
Admitting that the Idukki district secretary had deviated from the party line and had committed a "mistake" by making that speech, Vijayan said no crime can be registered on the basis of that speech. A defiant Mani, who had appeared before the media in Idukki yesterday, had made it clear he would not resign even as there were reports that he could face disciplinary action.

Vijayan had earlier stated that the party`s state and the central leadership took a stern view of Mani`s speech at Thodupuzha last week, in which he said that the CPI-M drew up a list of its rivals and eliminated three of them in the 1980s.
Police had registered a case against Mani last week on charges of murder, abetment and concealing information based on his speech at Thodupuzha.

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Lashing out at Minister of State for Home Mullapally Ramachandran, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, Vijayan said they were allegedly trying to hold CPI-M responsible for the murder of RMP leader, T P Chandrasekharan.

"CPI-M does not believe in the politics of murder and has not eliminated those who left the party. Chandrasekharan`s murder was brutal. Let the investigation go on. CPI-M has never criticised the investigation team," he said. Vijayan alleged that the fact was that the Kerala government was interfering with the investigation. He denied that party leaders had threatened investigating officers.
Senior leader and Politburo member S Ramachandran Pillai said Mani`s statement was a "mistake". The party does not annihilate its adversaries by conspiring and drawing up a list, he said. "The Marxist party is against any violence."
He alleged that CPI-M is being falsely implicated in the murder. "If we feel any of our workers are involved...Do not have any doubt...Strong action will be taken against them."
Both leaders criticised the media for alleging that CPI-M was threatening investigating officers in the case.
PTI