T P Chandrasekharan's wife to go ahead with fast

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Despite assurance from the UDF government in Kerala that her demand would be looked into positively, Revolutionary Marxist Party leader K K Rema tonight resolved to go ahead with her indefinite fast to press for a CBI probe into "political conspiracy" behind the brutal murder of her husband T P Chandrasekharan.

After consultations with colleagues on receiving assurance from the government, RMP leader Venugopal told reporters at the fast venue here that Rema would continue her struggle for justice even as the party was grateful to the State's gesture.

A visibly exhausted Rema said she was "mentally prepared to carry on with the fast."

Earlier, State Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala had sent a clear message to RMP leaders that their demand would be considered in right earnest, fuelling speculation that Rema would call off the fast that began on Monday.

Chennithala had said the government would take a decision on the matter after examining the legal and procedural aspects of recommending a probe by CBI to unearth the alleged political conspiracy behind the murder.

A CPI(M) rebel who floated a parallel Left outfit called Revolutionary Marxist Party in his home turf Onchiyam in north Kerala, Chandrasekharan was hacked to death in May, 2012.

Last month, a special court sentenced 11 persons, three of them local CPI(M) functionaries, to life imprisonment.

The Congress, BJP and several human rights activists had come out openly supporting the demand since Rema began her fast in front of the government secretariat here on Monday.

CPI(M), however, dubbed it as an illegal and politically motivated move.

In a related development, a fresh case was registered at Edachery police station in Kozhikode district on Tuesday, based on a complaint by Rema, alleging that her husband was the victim of a political conspiracy.