The opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala is set to turn into the protest mode. The Congress-led front, which met in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday, has decided to take to the streets, highlighting the failure of the home department, handled by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, in handling the law and order situation in the state.
The opposition front has decided to stage a sit-in in front of the State Secretariat on March 4 demanding that Vijayan quit as home minister.
All the legislators and MPs of the UDF will participate in the protest meet.
The UDF's decision to focus on the failures of the home department came close on the heels of the murder of a CPM worker by alleged RSS workers in Kannur, the CM's hometown.
A few days ago, at Kizhakkambalam in Ernakulam district an activist of the Twenty20 outfit had succumbed to injuries suffered during an alleged assault by CPM men.
There were reports that the functioning of the home department was under question at different district conferences of the ruling CPM recently.
The UDF also took stock of the Silverline semi high speed rail corridor project which CM Vijayan is adamant to implement despite protests from various corners.
The UDF will also organise a 25-day protest from March 10 to April 4 across the state against the project.
As many as 100 people's meets will be organised in the districts where the SilverLine corridor passes through.
"Corruption to the tune of Rs 1,500 crore had taken place in the Kerala Medical Services Corporation during the tenure of the first Pinarayi government under the pretext of Covid prevention measures. The UDF will take legal steps against this since the government has been reluctant to probe the charges. The UDF will also resist the attempts to belittle corruption and illegal land transfer involving the Kerala State Electricity Board," Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan, also the UDF chairman, said.
The UDF has been protesting against the SilverLine project inside and outside the assembly citing the environmental hazards and economic burden the project is likely to cause.
Rail experts like E Sreedharan has termed the proposed project an idiotic proposal.
But Vijayan is determined to go forward with the project which if completed will see a semi high speed train covering a 529.45-km corridor connecting Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod in around four hours.
The UDF also decided to take up Governor Arif Mohammed Khan's frequent outbursts against the government and the alleged settlements between him and the sate government in the floor of the assembly during the ongoing session.
