CPM calls Chief Secreatry unfit to lead after ‘Left crackdown,' announces stir on August 22

CHENNAI: The CPM’s decision to launch Statewide protests against the Chief Secretary over alleged targeting of Left student movements carries political significance, coming from a party that supports the Vijay-led government from outside and has now chosen to publicly confront the administration over what it describes as an assault on democratic rights, seeking a clarification from the CM.

The Left party will hold protests across the State on Saturday (August 22), demanding action against the Chief Secretary, whom it accused of targeting Left student movements and misusing government machinery to curb students’ democratic protests, CPM state secretary P Shanmugam said on Friday. The Left leader called the Chief Secretary unfit to lead the State administration and demanded action against the official.

The protest marks a sharp escalation by the CPM, which has extended support to the government from outside. By directly questioning the role of the top bureaucrat and seeking his removal, the party has put the government in a politically sensitive position and demanded that Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay clarify whether the alleged actions had his approval.

In a statement, Shanmugam alleged that the government’s communication directing colleges to act against student participation in protests organised by Left parties exposed the Chief Secretary’s “ideological bias”. He said the move reflected an “authoritarian mindset” aimed at curbing students’ right to protest.

“The issue may have been presented as one concerning left-wing movements, but the contents of the communication seek to suppress the democratic rights of students. This is dangerous,” Shanmugam said.

He questioned whether the action had been taken with the approval of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and alleged that it appeared to have been modelled on the style of the Union government of the right-wing BJP.

Though the Directorate of Collegiate Education had withdrawn its circular, the decision taken at the law and order review meeting and the subsequent communication issued by the Special Secretary to the Tamil Nadu government remained in force, Shanmugam said.

He disputed claims that only the Directorate of Collegiate Education had acted on the directive. The Special Secretary’s communication had been sent to the Directorate of Collegiate Education, Directorate of Technical Education and universities, and was subsequently forwarded to colleges through the Registrar of the University of Madras, he said.

The fact that an action taken report was sought with instructions marked “top priority” and “most immediate” showed the seriousness with which the decision had been implemented, Shanmugam said. “There is no use targeting only the arrows while leaving the person who shot them,” he said.

He also rejected the Higher Education Minister’s explanation in the Assembly that certain words in the circular had been used inadvertently. “The entire content was objectionable. The government has to explain whether campus peace means suppressing student protests,” he said.

The CPM also linked the issue to the Gujiliamparai tehsildar controversy, questioning the Revenue Minister’s statement in the Assembly that action was being taken against the official for allegedly attempting to collect information on Left activists.

Shanmugam pointed out that the district Collector’s note stated that the tehsildar had been relieved after completing training to join the Disaster Management Commissionerate. “Can relieving an official after training to join another post be called an action under the TVK government?” he asked.

The CPM said the repeated targeting of Left organisations could not be dismissed as coincidental and demanded that the Chief Minister and the government clarify their position.

The party demanded action against the Chief Secretary, alleging that he was unfit to continue in the post, and sought proper action against the Gujiliamparai Tahsildar.

The CPM has appealed to all sections of society to support its protests across all districts on August 22.