Surjeet denies CPM has links with Mathew

Surjeet denies CPM has links with Mathew
SANTWANA BHATTACHARYA

NEW DELHI, MARCH 30: CPI(M) general secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet today denied that controversial Home Ministry official Thomas Mathew was ever promised a party ticket from Kerala.

Mathew is currently under suspension for his alleged role in the Tehelka expose. Calling the reports of links between his party and Mathew ``false'', an angry Surjeet said: ``It is a story concocted by a desperate (Vajpayee) Government to divert attention. They will do anything to misdirect the discontent which has arisen because of the Tehelka tapes exposure.''

Denying that his party had ever offered Mathew a Lok Sabha ticket from Kerala or had any connection with him, Surjeet said: ``We do not indulge in such tricks. We follow certain rules in putting up candidates and we've not even fielded those ministers who've served two terms. Where is the question of nominating an outsider?''

However, when asked whether Mathew was one of the founder members of the CPI(M)-affiliated Jana Sanskriti in Kerala, Surjeet said he couldn't say anything about that. ``It is not possible to keep track of that. But he is definitely not a party member. We do not give party membership that easily. And without a party membership, there is no question of getting a ticket,'' he added emphatically.