A circular issued from the Kuzhiliyamparai taluk office in Dindigul district, directing field revenue staff to collect details of Communist party members, has triggered sharp opposition from the CPI and CPM.
According to the circular, revenue inspectors and village administrative officers were asked to compile names and addresses of people associated with the Communist Party of India and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) across all revenue villages, with a warning of action against village assistants for non-compliance.
The issue comes after a verbal altercation last week between CPM functionaries who went to submit a petition at the taluk office and Tahsildar Ayyasamy. The circular that followed has angered the Left parties, which extend outside support to the ruling T.Ve.K. government.
Separately, the CPM also objected to a Higher Education Department communication linked to instructions from Chief Secretary Sai Kumar on preventing student participation in protests. CPM state secretary Shanmugam alleged the moves were unconstitutional and demanded Sai Kumar’s removal, as the party held statewide demonstrations.
Responding to the controversy, Power Minister Nirmal Kumar said the tahsildar’s order had “nothing to do” with the government. The report also stated that action has been taken against the tahsildar and that the government has no intention of conducting any count of Communists.
