Alappuzha (Kerala), March 13 CPI(M) rebel leader G Sudhakaran said on Friday that those calling him a "traitor" are actually betraying the party themselves.
He was responding to reporters here a day after announcing his decision to contest the upcoming Assembly election as an independent candidate, a move that drew criticism from several party leaders.
Sudhakaran was attending a cricket tournament organized in memory of his brother G Bhuvaneswaran.
He said that Ambalapuzha MLA H Salam and CPI(M) state secretariat member Saji Cherian had called him a "traitor," even though party general secretary M A Baby had said that he would not be personally attacked.
"They say I have betrayed someone. Whom have I betrayed," he asked.
The veteran Left leader said that those criticizing him were betraying their own party.
"Simply holding a red flag does not make someone a Communist. There are many parties with red flags. I have not uttered even a single word against the Communist Party, and I will not speak against it," he said.
Sudhakaran alleged that his critics were trying to provoke him into speaking against the party.
He accused them of distancing as many people as possible from the party and then claiming that they were serving it. He said that they themselves were pushing that party into the grave.
He had never betrayed the working class and had always worked for them.
"What service have they actually done. They should not lie down and spit upwards. They should do the work assigned to them by the party. Leave G Sudhakaran," he said.
Sudhakaran reiterated that he would contest the election as an independent candidate.
"I will win if people vote for me, and there is no reason for them not to vote for me," he added.