CPI-M red-faced as party men open Rel outlets

KOCHI: A red-faced CPI-M has reprimanded an MLA and Kochi Corporation's deputy mayor after they inaugurated two retail outlets of the Reliance group here.

The party is protesting the entry of multinationals and corporate houses in the retail sector. Much to its embarrassment, party MLA C M Dinesh Mani and Deputy Mayor C K Manisankar recently inaugurated two Reliance outlets in Kochi.

Clarifying his stand, Mani said he had inaugurated the outlet in his constituency without realising it was that of the corporate house.

According to Mani, a friend of his had suggested to him that he should inaugurate the outlet and that it was not a pre-determined programme.

Manisankar too apologised profusely to the party for inaugurating an outlet of the Reliance group and blamed his friends for the "faux pas".

CPI-M's Ernakulam district secretariat reprimanded the two leaders yesterday for their action and warned them for going against the party's policies. The matter has been referred to the party's state committee since Mani is a state committee member, party sources said.

Traders in Kerala had on Wednesday observed a state-wide shutdown against the entry of multinationals and big corporate houses in the retail sector.