Political tension flares up after clashes across Keralam
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Communist Party of India (Marxist) leaders march towards the Secretariat on Thursday in protest against the alleged manhandling of students by the police and Youth Congress workers at the University men’s hostel on Wednesday night. | Photo Credit: NIRMAL HARINDRAN
Political tension has spiked over the past few days with Keralam witnessing pitched street battles between the activists of the Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) as well as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and their respective youth and student organisations.
Congress workers waved black flags as Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s convoy passed through Kollam district on September 26, part of the Congress’ nationwide campaign demanding the exit of Gyanesh Kumar as Chief Election Commissioner following allegations of enabling voter identity fraud and disenfranchising minorities. This led to counter protests by the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) supporters against Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, MP, Ministers and Congress offices in various districts over the past few days.
On Wednesday, Minister for Local Self-Government K.M. Shaji’s vehicle was blocked by Yuva Morcha workers in Thiruvananthapuram, forcing him to walk to his office. Later in the evening, violence broke out during a Youth Congress march demanding the resignation of Mr. Gyanesh Kumar. The Students Federation of India (SFI) accused the Youth Congress and KSU workers of hurling flaming torches on to the Kerala University hostel grounds when the lights went out during the power-cut, while the Youth Congress accused the SFI of throwing stones at the protest march. Subsequent police action inside the hostel grounds drew sharp criticism from the SFI and senior CPI(M) leaders.
On Thursday, the official vehicle of Sports Minister O.J. Janeesh, who had led Wednesday’s march, was allegedly attacked by Democratic Youth Federation of India members at Kannur, drawing sharp condemnation from Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan.
While Mr. Satheesan asked why the CPI(M) was getting distressed over demonstrations against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as well as the CEC and accused the party of provoking Wednesday’s clashes, Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan said that the Youth Congress protest, which was ostensibly against the Sangh Parivar and the CEC, was a calculated act of violence staged to appease the RSS and divert public attention from the State government’s administrative failures.
Despite the attack on the DCC office and the obstruction of their own Ministers on the road, neither the MP, other elected representatives, nor Youth Congress activists even bothered to react against the Sangh Parivar, said Mr.Vijayan.
BJP MLA V. Muraleedharan said Thiruvananthapuram was witnessing a “complete collapse of law and order.” The alleged attack on BJP leader P.K. Krishnadas and the attack on BJP offices by Congress workers reflected a dangerous escalation of political violence and posed a threat to public safety, he said in a social media post.
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