Panoor: CPM state secretary MV Govindan has abstained from the inaugural function of martyrdom memorial built in memory of two party workers who got killed while making bombs at Chettakandy near Panoor. In his absence, CPM Kannur district secretary MV Jayarajan inaugurated the memorial. 

The event was held on Wednesday evening. In the wake of the controversy due to the extensive media coverage, a large crowd, including women, gathered at the place, braving heavy rains. 

It was on June 6, 2015 that two CPM workers, Kilambil Shyju of East Chettakandy and Subeesh of Vadakkekaral were killed while making bombs at Kokrattukunnu, Chettakandy.  Party had taken a stand that the workers got killed as part of their resistance against RSS attack. 

Since it was scheduled earlier that MV Govindan would inaugurate the function, the organisers had etched his name on the plaque set in connection with the inaugural ceremony. 

As MV Govindan didn’t turn up, MV Jayarajan inaugurated the memorial by cutting the ribbon and walked to the stage hundred meters away, where the public meeting in connection with the inauguration was to take place. It was only when organising committee convener VP Nanu mentioned about the inauguration in his welcome address that the people gathered had realised that the state secretary would not come, leaving them disappointed. 

Recently, CPM leadership had denounced the incident in which a party worker got killed at Kunnothparamba while making bombs. But, building a memorial for another two workers who got killed while doing the same thing has put the party on the backfoot.

Meanwhile, MV Jayarajan has said that the absence of MV Govindan was due to some unexpected inconvenience.