Kannur: Health Minister Veena George sustained minor injuries to her hand and neck during a Kerala Students Union (KSU) protest march at Kannur Railway Station on Wednesday. The minister was taken to Kannur General Hospital for treatment.

Speaking about the incident, Veena George stated that a scuffle broke out as she arrived at the station, leading to some pushing and shoving. She then walked away from the situation, but soon began experiencing pain in her neck.

An officer at the Kannur Railway Police also confirmed that the scuffle occurred when the minister arrived at the station. He said that the KSU activists involved in the incident were taken to the Kannur Town Police Station.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan condemned the incident and said that the attack was against all women. "What occurred there was not a protest demonstration of any kind- it was the rampage of a group of violent elements," Pinarayi said in a Facebook post.

The CM said the incident warrants strong protest and criticised the Congress leadership for failing to prevent KSU activists from staging such a protest. "The style of opposition politics in Kerala- one that constantly spreads lies and hatred to incite cadres towards violence- is behind this incident. The KSU attack is a manifestation of that approach, which thrives on baseless allegations and seeks to pollute the political atmosphere," he said.

Speaker AN Shamseer expressed his concern over the incident, calling it unfortunate.

Earlier in the day, the Youth Congress and the Muslim Youth League held protests across Kannur district against Veena George. Party workers showed black flags at several locations, including Peringome. The KSU protest at the Railway Station followed this trend.

The CPM has strongly condemned the incident and announced protests in response. CPM State Secretary MV Govindan called for widespread protests by women and youth across the state. He described the attack on a woman minister as 'highly condemnable' and sharply criticised the Congress, the Youth Congress, and the KSU.

Govindan alleged that the UDF leadership lacked the strength to prevent such incidents and accused it of allowing a culture of violence to grow. He also referred to an earlier incident in which a funeral wreath was placed outside the minister's residence, alleging that the Congress leadership was aware of it and gave silent consent. "Had the Congress condemned that incident, the attack at the railway station would not have happened," he said.

CPM Kannur district secretary K K Ragesh said the minister had been admitted to the ICU and sustained serious injuries. Describing the incident as a planned attack, he said targeting a woman minister was unprecedented in the state.

"Was it because Kerala's healthcare sector was being developed to world-class standards that the minister was attacked?" Ragesh asked.