Kerala Chief Minister Condemns KSU Protest as Heinous Political Act by Congress
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has strongly criticized the Kerala Students Union (KSU) protest against Health Minister Veena George, labeling it a heinous political act orchestrated by the Congress party. The incident occurred at Kannur railway station, where the health minister sustained injuries during what the CM described as an attack rather than a peaceful demonstration.
CM Vijayan's Stern Rebuke of Opposition Tactics
"The health minister was injured at Kannur railway station. It was not a protest but an attack by a group of assailants. She was attacked while walking on the platform," Vijayan stated emphatically. He further emphasized that Kerala maintains the best healthcare sector in the country, a fact recognized by official agencies, yet some incidents are being exaggerated to target a minister who has no involvement in the matters being protested.
The Chief Minister characterized this as a political disgrace and warned Congress leaders against thinking they can disrupt peace or incite riots through their followers. "KSU attackers reflect their style of tarnishing politics with baseless allegations. This is extremely deplorable and deserves condemnation," he added, underscoring his disapproval of what he sees as violent opposition tactics.
CPM Leadership Echoes Condemnation
CPM general secretary M A Baby joined in condemning the KSU protest against Health Minister Veena George on Wednesday, referring to it explicitly as an 'attack' against the minister. Baby accused the opposition of employing criminal groups to disrupt law and order in their pursuit of political power.
"Protests and opposition are natural in a democracy. Instead of engaging in democratic protests, opposition organizations chose the path of violence. This is disgraceful and insults Kerala's cultural ethos," Baby declared. He called upon Congress and UDF leaders to clarify their stance on KSU's actions and to publicly disown those responsible for attacking the minister.
CPM's Strategic Response and Historical Context
In his statement, Baby urged CPM and LDF workers to remain vigilant against opposition tactics designed to create unrest and chaos across Kerala. "Recognizing these devious plans, peaceful and democratic protests should be conducted across Kerala. Police must identify the attackers and ensure they are punished appropriately," he emphasized, outlining a dual approach of maintaining democratic principles while ensuring legal accountability.
Meanwhile, the CPM state secretariat issued a separate statement claiming that Congress has resorted to despicable tactics of physical violence because it cannot challenge the LDF politically through legitimate means. The statement asserted, "This is extremely condemnable and deplorable. For the first time in Kerala's history, a woman minister was attacked. The fear of defeat in upcoming assembly elections is driving UDF and Congress to commit unjustifiable acts of violence."
Broader Political Implications
The incident has sparked significant political controversy in Kerala, with the ruling LDF framing it as:
- A violent attack rather than legitimate protest
- Evidence of Congress's inability to compete politically
- A threat to Kerala's democratic traditions
- An unprecedented assault on a woman minister
Both Chief Minister Vijayan and CPM leadership have positioned the incident as indicative of what they characterize as the opposition's desperation and willingness to employ violence as political tools. The statements collectively paint a picture of escalating political tensions as Kerala approaches future electoral contests, with the ruling coalition seeking to frame the opposition as resorting to undemocratic means when facing political challenges.
