CPI-M covering up Kannur 'bomb' explosion: Vayalar Ravi

Kochi, April 29 (IANS) Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi Wednesday said the ruling Left Front was covering up the Kannur 'bomb blast involving the son of a Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) legislator'.

Ravi denied the CPI-M allegation that the Congress incited trouble during the April 16 elections in Kannur district of Kerala.

'The CPI-M is a worried lot because of the bomb that went off, in which the son of CPI-M legislator P. Jayarajan got injured. They want to cover up that and for that they have dragged my name and that of Oommen Chandy (for violence in Kannur),' Ravi told reporters here.

CPI-M state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan Tuesday accused Congress leaders, including Ravi, of conspiring to 'create terror' in the Kannur district on the polling day April 16. He said the Congress 'goons' tried to disrupt the voting.

Ashish P. Raj, Jayarajan's son, and his friend were injured in an explosion April 16 evening at Patyam in the district. The two are in a hospital in Kozhikode. But the CPI-M said it was a fire cracker and not a bomb that injured the two.

'Yes, I did speak to police officials to inquire about what had happened. What is wrong in that and I will do it again when I come to know that my partymen have some difficulty. The CPI-M is trying to create a smoke screen to cover up the serious issue of the bomb blast, in which Jayarajan's son is involved,' said Ravi.