Not Karunanidhi

Nripen Chakravorty THE piece of 'CPl(M): Note of Dissent' in your columns (January 21) was singularly deceitful about the CPI(M) and its senior leader Nripen Chakravorty. It contains a string of falsehoods to convey the impression that the party is out to persecute its own polit- buro member. Your correspondent falsely alleges that Jyoti Basu had "publicly declared that Chakravorty had been retired because of his old age from the politburo of the party". Actually Jyoti Basu had told the press on December26,1994 that Nripen Chakravorty was resting because of his ill health. This is presented by your correspondent, echoing the congenitally anti-communist press of West Bengal, to mean 'ouster' from the politburo and the central committee.