Thiruvananthapuram: Clashes erupted between the Congress and police officials here on Saturday as the Left government's month-long outreach programme Nava Kerala Sadas neared its finale. The Nava Kerala Sadas is set to conclude in the state capital on Saturday.
A protest march by the opposition Congress towards the Kerala DGP office turned violent with agitators hurling stones and sticks at the police following which water cannons were used to disperse the crowd. The march was organised by the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) to protest against the alleged police atrocities against its workers during their agitation against the ongoing 'Nava Kerala Sadas' outreach programme of the Left government.
Senior leaders including KPCC chief K Sudhakaran, Leader of Opposition in the assembly V D Satheesan and senior leader Ramesh Chennithala were present on the makeshift stage near the DGP office when the police used tear gas and water cannons.
Sudhakaran and Chennithala were visibly affected by the tear gas used by the police and was assisted by the Congress workers to an available car nearby. Alongside Sudhakaran, other leaders like MM Hassan and K Muraleedharan were also rushed to the hospital. A few women journalists present at the spot too developed problems with the intermittent usage of tear gas by the cops.
As soon as Sudhakaran concluded his speech, the party men started climbing the barricades erected near the DGP office and attempted to force their way past the security cordon. The water cannon was used while Satheesan was addressing the cadres. The meeting ended abruptly.
But even as the senior leaders left the spot immediately, more Youth Congress workers assembled at the spot en masse. Raising slogans against the police, they also accused the agency of launching an attack without any provocation.
Kodikunnil Suresh MP charged that the party leadership wanted to conduct a peaceful march, but the police dropped tear gas shells even before the start of the procession. The government is attempting to crush mass protest, he added. “We doubt whether the government gave a direction even to eliminate the Opposition leaders. The Chief Minister should answer this,” he said.
Clash at Kattakada on Friday
Youth Congress, Congress workers and the DYFI and CPI(M) activists had clashed at Kattakada here on Friday.
As soon as the CM's convoy reached the area, a section of Congress and Youth Congress workers were seen waving black flags and jumping in front of the cavalcade. Television channels showed a Congress worker being hit by one of the police cars accompanying the convoy.
Later, police said a local Congress leader was injured and was admitted to a hospital here after he was hit on his leg by a police car. Police also said that at least 25 Congress workers suddenly jumped in front of the special bus when it reached Kattakada.
Violence was reported from many places since yesterday after the Nava Kerala Sadas entered Thiruvananthapuram district. Violence was reported from Attingal, Kattakada, Neyyattinkara and Kuttichal, among other places. In many places, after the Congress workers waved black flag and jumping in front of the cavalcade, the DYFI-CPI(M) workers allegedly attacked them.
Meanwhile, CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan said the Congress was trying to instigate riots across the state. Govindan alleged that it was the Leader of Opposition, V D Satheesan who had instigated Congress workers to attack DYFI activists and jump in front of the CM's convoy.
"Whatever the Congress is doing right now in the name of protest is anti-democratic. People will strongly react to this," Govindan said at a press meet here.
He also alleged that the Congress was trying to take away the popularity of the nava Kerala Sadas just before its conclusion.
However, Satheesan alleged that the CPI(M) was engaged in violence.
"Yesterday, the house of Congress block president at Attingal was attacked. Women were also attacked. CPI(M) workers also attacked the Congress workers who were detained by the Venjaramoodu police," Satheesan said.
He also said the Chief Minister should be arraigned as an accused in all the matters.
On Thursday, a march organised by the Kerala Students' Union (KSU) to the office of the Director General of Police turned violent leading to clashes between the police and protesting students. The protest organised in the state capital aimed to condemn the alleged attacks on KSU and Youth Congress activists by members of CPI(M), DYFI and the Chief Minister's gunman.
Trouble had erupted when a protesting KSU worker allegedly hurled chilli powder at the police, prompting the police to respond with a lathicharge.
Congress workers have been protesting against the cavalcade of the Chief Minister and his cabinet colleagues, who are undertaking the state-wide Nava Kerala Sadas yatra, alleging that the government machinery was being used for the Left party's political campaign.
(With PTI inputs.)
