Kerala: Tension grips Thiruvananthapuram as political confrontation escalates

Kerala capital city of Thiruvananthapuram witnessed tension and confrontation on December 23, in connection with two programmes of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morch (BJYM) and Congress, respectively. Leaders and workers of both parties were teargassed several times and arrested. The city witnessed blatant police atrocities.

Yuva Morcha leaders climbed on top of the barricade before the Secretariat. They were led by BJYM state president Praful Krishna. BJYM workers were injured when the police used force to block the march. Water cannon was also used at the BJYM workers. Praful Krishna said that Pinarayi Vijayan is the most ridiculed CM in the state. He alleged that CPM spends black money for the Nava Kerala Sadas and Cabinet Yatra.

Congress staged a protest march to State Police Chief’s (DGP) office. But, it is alleged that teargas shell was blasted near the dais where the senior leaders sat. Water cannon was used too.

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President K. Sudhakaran and Chandy Oommen MLA, son of former CM late Oommen Chandy, are hospitalised due to physical discomfort.

Both protest programmes were against the DYFI and SFI attacks against those who waved black flags to the much-publicized Nava Kerala Sadas and the entire Cabinet travelling in a luxury bus worth Rs 1.05 crore. At one place, DYFI men attacked Youth Congress men while waving black bags to the travelling cabinet. Attackers wield plant pots, iron rods and helmets causing head injuries to the victims. In another place, CM’s gunman came out of the vehicle and beat the protesters brutally. In Kollam Yuva Morcha protesters were attacked by DYFI goons. Throughout the state, CM’s Cabinet Yatra was shown black flags by Congress and Yuva Morcha.

Meanwhile, Kerala Governor Dr Arif Mohammed Khan has blasted CM Pinarayi Vijayan while talking to the media at Delhi. The governor said the people of Kerala are with him. CM is the man behind the design to attack him. Governor says, he does not face any threat from the people of Kerala, but from CPM and SFI criminals. SFI blocked even Balan Pootheri, a Padmasree laureate, from attending the Calicut University Senate meeting. The governor alleged that even though Kerala Police is one of the best in the country, the Chief Minister is criminalising that institution. Police does not get free hands and liberty to perform. He stated that the law and order situation in the state has totally collapsed.

BJP president K Surendran said that the only achievement of the Cabinet Yatra and Sadas is the collapse of the law and order in the state. The whole programme is to hide the failure of the administrative performance of Pinarayi government.