Author: M.G. Radhakrishnan
Publication: India Today
Date: August 15, 2005
URL: http://www.indiatoday.com/itoday/20050815/iscope4.shtml
Even as it raises a hue and cry
over the dismissal of four employees of the Honda plant at Gurgaon for
alleged indiscipline, the CPI(M) has no qualms going the "capitalist way"
in its own institutions in Kerala.
E. Padma Kumar, a photographer with
the party organ Desabhimani, was sacked from the organisation for alleged
indiscipline. His crime? Making an innocent comment on party General Secretary
Prakash Karat. Seeing Karat's picture being readied at the layout department
for the next day's paper Kumar had allegedly remarked on the attempts under
way in the party to deify the new leader. The next day he was served a
show-cause notice and later sacked.
Kumar's dismissal came on the heels
of 12 contractual employees, including a reporter, being terminated from
service at Desabhimani. The CPI(M)-backed Kairali Television channel has
also earned notoriety for sacking employees at the drop of a hat. The number
of employees fired from Kairali has crossed 30-including three chief executives-in
a period of three years.
