Achuthanandan lashes out at Hamsa

KOLLAM: Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan on Friday came down heavily on  former minister and CPM leader T K Hamsa,  taking a dig at his Congress past.He was replying to mediapersons’ questions on the derogatory remark made by Hamsa against him at Malappuram the other day.Hamsa had said that VS had ditched the party whenever it was in trouble. While Achuthanandan clearly stated that such nonsensical talk by Hamsa does not deserve a reply from a leader of his stature, he was quick to make some harsh remarks against the Pinarayi-loyalist.Referring to the Congress days of Hamsa, Achuthanandan said that when AKG staged a hunger strike during the infamous Amaravathy land issue, the former had made a sarcastic criticism against AKG.“This respected fellow (Hamsa) was then the DCC president,” VS said.“CPM was formed by 32 pioneering leaders, including Musafir Ahamed, Jyothi Basu, AKG, EMS and Impichi Bava. We were then called traitors for opposing Dange’s revisionist policies. After many years, when the party congress was held in Kozhikode, around 10 lakh people attended it. Hamsa was just one of them,” he said.“When the party grew in strength, the likes of Hamsa switched sides eying plum positions. Gradually, he became an MLA, MP and even a minister. He is still waiting for more benefits from the party,” Achuthanandan said.