Thiruvananthapuram | CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan on Friday disowned the online attacks against Malayalam 'superstar' Mammootty allegedly from Left cyber handles, saying the party had no role or interest in targeting the veteran actor.
Responding to media questions about the online criticism directed at Mammootty, Govindan said the party had never decided to carry out such things and did not believe in launching coordinated attacks against anyone.
"Mammootty is a legendary Malayalam actor known across the world. He might have criticised certain things, but we view such criticism constructively. The CPI(M) believes in engaging in a healthy dialogue with those who agree with us as well as those who disagree. We are not into ganging up against anyone," he said.
Govindan was responding to reports of cyber-bullying against Mammootty and leaders of the Students' Federation of India (SFI) and the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) following their recent visit to the actor's residence.
He said party representatives would reach out to people from all walks of life, irrespective of their political affiliations, and not just those associated with the SFI and DYFI.
Mammootty, generally regarded as a fellow traveller of the Marxist party, had faced criticism from alleged Left-leaning cyber handles in March this year also.
The online attacks had followed reports that the National Award-winning actor expressed displeasure over CPI(M) Wayanad district secretary K Rafeeq accompanying him during his personal visit to the newly constructed township for survivors of the Wayanad landslides.