Idukki (Kerala) | Senior CPI(M) leader M M Mani on Thursday warned forest officials of consequences if they did not act "properly" on issues concerning farmers in Kerala's high-range areas.

He made the remarks while addressing a gathering after a protest march to the Nagarampara Forest Range Office against the Forest department's alleged move to seize farmers' land, claiming it to be forest land.

In his speech, Mani warned officials against harassing farmers.

"If the officials act fairly, there will be no problems. But if they don't, we will be forced to respond. We will have to take the law into our own hands. And if anyone confronts us in the name of the law, we are prepared to face them. There is no doubt about that," he said.

The former minister alleged that forest officials were acting with the belief that the government led by Chief Minister V D Satheesan would support them and asserted that high-range farmers were prepared to resist such actions.

"Congress governments always worked against high-range farmers and it is with that legacy that V D Satheesan is trying to threaten us," Mani alleged.

He also said he had never feared the police and would not be intimidated by forest officials either.

Mani reminded forest and police officials that they too have families.

"They have wives and children at home. We too have families, but we work for society. We have a mindset of 'come what may'," he said.

Mani, a former minister in the 2016-2021 LDF government, is known for his fiery speeches and has courted controversy on several occasions over his remarks.

He did not contest the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections.