Thiruvananthapuram, 22 June (H.S.):

Veteran CPI(M) leader and former Kerala Minister G. Sudhakaran has strongly criticised remarks made by a ruling front legislator who allegedly described communism as a “curse,” asserting that such comments were an insult to a historic ideology that has shaped political movements across the world.

Speaking at a public event, Sudhakaran took exception to the speech made by Thiruvalla MLA Varghese Mammen and said communism should not be ridiculed or dismissed. He argued that while communist parties may have weakened over time, the ideology itself remains relevant and cannot be termed obsolete.

“Someone here said communism is a curse. Fortunately, I did not have to see his face. Does a person who calls communism a curse even have the right to speak of history? Did Jawaharlal Nehru describe communism as a curse in his writings?” Sudhakaran asked.

The veteran leader said the problem was not with communism but with those who had distorted or abandoned its principles. He described himself as a “believer in communism,” even though he no longer claims to be an active communist in the organisational sense. “Communism has not become outdated. What is lacking today are people capable of practising and implementing it,” he said.

Pointing to countries such as China, Cuba, North Korea and Vietnam, Sudhakaran said communist ideas continue to survive in different forms around the world. He also defended political alliances forged by Left parties over the years, noting that communists had previously worked alongside the Kerala Congress and factions of the Congress party.

Referring to criticism that he had once “fallen into the Congress camp,” Sudhakaran said such alliances were often necessary in politics. He cited the Left’s dependence on Congress support in certain states, including Rajasthan, and questioned why some leaders condemned cooperation with Congress while ignoring similar political realities elsewhere.

Expressing concern over the decline of the Left movement nationally, Sudhakaran noted that Left parties once held 62 seats in Parliament but are now reduced to just six. “We must ask why our movement has reached this stage,” he said.

Sudhakaran also made it clear that he would not work against the CPI(M), but would continue to criticise those who act against its principles. Taking a swipe at what he called “feudal language” in contemporary politics, he said communists traditionally emerged from humble backgrounds and stood with ordinary people.

“Communism should not be cursed. If there are failures, they belong to those who abandoned its ideals, not to the ideology itself,” he said.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman