DYFI attacks Sports Minister O J Janeesh’s car in Kannur; CMO alleges conspiracy

Kannur: Sports Minister O J Janeesh’s car was attacked by DYFI workers at Taliparamba and Payyannur on Thursday. The minister was travelling to Kasaragod after attending programmes in Kannur when his car was stopped at Taliparamba and hit with stones.

The Chief Minister’s Office, in a statement, said the attack on the minister in Kannur was carried out with the knowledge of the CPM leadership. Those who attacked the minister and those who allegedly conspired to carry out the assault would be brought before the law, the statement said.

Janeesh had arrived in Kannur to attend a programme of the Archaeology Department. People accompanying the minister said the car’s flag pole and rain guard were damaged in the attacks.

The CMO said the attack, allegedly carried out by DYFI-CPM workers, was unacceptable and alleged there were several attempts to target the minister’s vehicle earlier too.

According to the statement, the incidents reported in Payyanur and Taliparamba were a continuation of the attacks against former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy during his tenure.

The CMO also accused the CPM of attempting to create unrest in the state following what it called an 'electoral setback'. It said the CPM was using criminal and quotation groups to carry out protests and said the government had a responsibility to prevent such incidents.

The statement also questioned whether the CPM was targeting Janeesh over his role in leading Youth Congress protests against the BJP-led government and the Election Commission. The CMO warned that the CPM and DYFI should not assume that such incidents would continue unchecked.

The allegations come amid heightened political tensions in Kannur, with the ruling and opposition fronts trading accusations over the attack on the minister.

Earlier, the CPM had criticised the Congress and its affiliated organisations for staging protests against ministers during the previous LDF government’s tenure. During the previous government’s Nava Kerala Sadas, KSU and Youth Congress workers had staged protests and waved black flags at ministers travelling across the state on a special bus.

AD Thomas, now the Alappuzha MLA, was beaten by police while attempting to protest against the ministers. At the time, then Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and other CPM leaders defended the police action.

Former Health Minister Veena George had also alleged earlier this year that KSU workers attempted to assault her during a protest. The incident triggered a political controversy, with the CPM and Congress trading allegations. Videos from the incident showed KSU workers approaching Veena at Kannur railway station, while the Congress maintained that the protesters did not assault her. Veena, meanwhile, said she experienced physical discomfort following the incident and was taken to hospital.

The latest incidents involving protests against Congress ministers have brought renewed attention to the contrasting positions taken by the two parties when they were in power and opposition.