A group of youths attack CPI(M) headquarters, three held

A group of youths today allegedly tried to vandalise CPI(M) headquarters here as the police detained one of them while two others surrendered in the evening.

While the CPI(M) alleged the attackers were RSS-BJP workers who also hurled stones, the police said the detainee claimed to be member of an outfit called the 'Aam Aadmi Sena'.

"Three youths came to the CPI(M) office where they sprayed black ink on the building wall. While one of them, Sushant Khosla, was held by CPI(M) workers and handed over to police, two others, identified as Ved Prakash and Rocky, surrendered before us in the evening," DCP (New Delhi) Jatin Narwal said.

"The youth told police that he is a member of the Aam Aadmi Sena," he said.

No case has been registered so far, the DCP said.

Confirming the attack, CPI(M) General Sitaram Yechury said "They tried to write slogans like 'Pakistan Zindabad' on our office board. They were pursued by our comrades and one of them was caught and handed over to the police."

"We condemn this attack. The RSS which venerates the assassins of Mahatma Gandhi, is now branding the most secular democratic force, the CPI (M), as anti-national.

"We do not need certificates of patriotism from the murderers of Gandhi. We will meet this challenge politically," he told PTI.

Yechury alleged that RSS was doing such things to divert attention from the complete mess they have brought to the country in terms of economic and social conditions. "They want to divert the attention of the people by whipping communal polarisation."

CPI(M) sources said the youths threw stones and shouted slogans like 'CPI(M) Desh Chhodo' (CPI-M quit the country).

They added that the attack on party office was the BJP's signal to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee that the party was "anti-CPI(M)".

The Left party has already been accusing TMC and BJP of entering into an "underhand deal" ahead of the West Bengal assembly polls.

CPI National Secretary D Raja strongly condemned the incident, saying "The Sangh Parivar cannot subvert our democratic political system and the constitutional arrangement of our polity."

"If they have anything to argue, they can argue but they should not resort to such cowardly and uncivilised attacks," Raja said.  

Meanwhile, the CPI(M) politburo also condemned the "cowardly" attack on its Central Committee office in New Delhi and demanded the police investigate the matter "thoroughly" and take action against the "culprits" and their "mentors".

"Those who hero worship the murderer of Mahatma Gandhi as a 'national hero' have the temerity to accuse the CPI(M) of being anti-national.

"We do not require certificates of patriotism from such elements. This is a politically motivated attack on the CPI(M) party headquarters.

"The CPI-M will meet this challenge politically and defend ourselves against such attacks," the politburo said in a statement.