Thiruvananthapuram: The broadside between the CPM and CPI organs continued unabated with the latter's 'Navayugam' magazine returning fire by terming the State's first chief minister and Marxist ideologue EMS Namboodiripad the "biggest traitor in Kerala politics."

The latest edition of CPI-promoted 'Navayugam' accused EMS of spearheading a move against the CPI ministers in 1967. The article, "Kandaalum Kondaalum Padikkathavar" (loosely translated as those who never learn from experience) said the CPI ministers were cheated by EMS and others.

The article, apparently, was in retaliation to one in CPM publication 'Chintha' magazine that had launched a broadside against CPI saying the latter should have dropped the term 'Communist' from its name long ago, besides giving up its red flag, the party's banner.

The 'Navayugam' article was in response to 'Chintha' levelling corruption charges against CPI leaders M N Govindan Nair and T V Thomas. Namboodiripad had put his long-time comrades in the dock with the intention of decimating CPI, 'Navayugam' alleged.

The magazine went on to say that C Achutha Menon, who performed exemplary, was the most popular chief minister Kerala had ever seen. Realising his popularity, the CPM has been deliberately trying to erase him from the State's political history, the magazine argued.

Referring to the CPM taunt that CPI had supported the Emergency and the Congress, Navayugom said CPI had fought against the Emergency at the national level.

"CPM has been levelling the charges since it had nothing else to hold against the CPI. Nine people were killed in fake encounters under the cover of anti-Maoist operations. Will those criticising Achutha Menon for the death of Rajan criticise the present chief minister for killing Maoists?," the 'Navayugam' article further stated.

P Rajan, an Engineering student in Kozhikode, was tortured to death in police custody in 1976 during the Emergency. His remains have not been found. Menon was the chief minister when the incident happened.

CPM has been paying lip service against the draconian UAPA [Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act]. The court itself had pointed out that the Act was used to falsely implicate and jail Allan and Twaha, the article said.

Students Allan Shuhaib and Twaha Fasal were arrested in November 2019 for their alleged Maoist links. The Supreme Court granted them bail in October 2021.

The CPI publication also remarked the CPM has its own justification for every act. CPM had publicly joined hands with Janasangham, Swatantra Party and Kerala Congress to contest the polls, and justified it as a tactic.

Terming the split in the Communist party (1964) a tragedy, 'Navayugom' said the communists stood a chance to form a Left government Kerala in 1965, and people were in favour of such a dispensation.

The article concluded by reminding Chintha and the CPM that the history would always move forward and not in reverse.