CPM General Secretary MA Baby slams Rahul Gandhi, says “Don’t act like an ED agent”

CPM General Secretary MA Baby on Saturday criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks that he cannot hug former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi VVijayn due to political differences in the state.

In a post on X, MA Baby said, “Nobody is asking Rahul Gandhi to hug Pinarayi Vijayan,” but added that he should not demand the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrest other opposition leaders.

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“Rahul Gandhi should not become an agent working for the ED. It is not his job to demand that investigative agencies be used against fellow opposition leaders,” Baby said.

He further stated that a hug cannot be forced and should be based on mutual understanding and expressed affection or friendship.

Baby also pointed out that Rahul Gandhi, who said he could not hug Pinarayi Vijayan due to political differences, had earlier hugged Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Parliament. He added that Congress leaders had previously made similar allegations against Arvind Kejriwl and Manish Sisodia, who were later acquitted by the court.

He claimed that no other party has sacrificed or suffered as much as the CPM in its political and ideological fight against the RSS and BJP, and urged the Congress leadership to focus on more serious issues instead of raising such matters.

Baby further said that while parties in the INDIA bloc may compete in certain states, Rahul Gandhi should maintain political etiquette and dignity in such situations. He also said he had written to AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge regarding the standards that should be followed by national leaders in political criticism.

He argued that by calling for central agencies to act against fellow opposition leaders, Rahul Gandhi was indirectly supporting the agenda of the ruling government. He questioned the purpose of an alliance if its members publicly accused each other of aiding the ruling party.

The remarks come after Rahul Gandhi, during an INDIA bloc meeting on June 8, referred to regional political differences and said that while the alliance is united nationally, local rivalries persist. He had stated that he “cannot and will not” hug former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan due to ongoing political differences.