CPI(M) asks partymen to refrain from political discussions on social media

The CPI(M) has instructed its leaders and cadres not to get involved in any discussion related to politics on social media.

The decision was taken at a meeting held in the city on  Wednesday. Party General Secretary Sitaram Yechury and former CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee were present. 

The leaders have been further instructed not to "like" or comment on political activities that are going on in the country. In case of any grievance, the leaders or cadres should write to the party and not write a single word on social media as "that will tarnish image of the party." The decision was taken after senior party leaders felt visibly embarrassed over a photograph uploaded on Facebook involving party's Rajya Sabha MP Ritabrata Banerjee. A party sympathiser uploaded a photograph of Banerjee, where he wearing a costly Apple watch and using a Mont Blanc pen. 

Banerjee went a step forward and got in touch with the HR department of the firm, based out of Bangalore, where the person who had uploaded the photograph works and requested them to take action against him. This gesture of Banerjee had embarrassed senior party leaders and Politburo of the party had reprimanded him. A senior party leader said it was found that most of the party cadres and some of the senior party leaders were very active on social media and "so it would be foolish to ask them not to use social media. Hence, they have been asked to refrain from making political comments that might unnecessarily give rise to controversy."