A disturbing incident involving an attack on a children's Christmas carol group in Palakkad has escalated into a major political controversy, with parents now publicly condemning a statement from a BJP leader that appeared to justify the assault.
Parents' Outrage Over BJP Leader's Remarks
The parents of the children involved held a press conference on Wednesday, expressing deep distress over comments made by BJP leader C Krishnakumar. Krishnakumar had controversially claimed the group members were drinking and described them as a "criminal team" that had taken a band set from a CPM area committee office.
The parents firmly countered these allegations, stating their children, aged between 10 and 15 years, were out for their annual Christmas caroling on Sunday night when the attack occurred. They emphasized that no adults were present with the group. The families revealed they are considering filing a formal complaint regarding the severe mental anguish the children have suffered following both the physical attack and the subsequent controversial statements.
The Incident and Arrest
The attack took place on Sunday night in an area known to have a strong RSS presence. According to the police complaint, the accused confronted the young carolers and destroyed their band set and other articles. Police arrested an RSS worker, Ashwin Raj, in connection with the incident on Tuesday. The official report noted that Raj was intoxicated at the time of the attack.
Political Fallout and Protests
The event has triggered significant political reactions across Kerala. The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) announced it will organize protest carols across 2,500 units in the Palakkad district as a mark of solidarity and defiance.
The Congress party has leveled serious allegations, claiming the attack was an act of retaliation by the BJP after failing to gain support from the Christian community. They described the assault as a deliberate attempt to disturb communal harmony in the region.
The clash of narratives—between the parents' account of a traditional children's activity and the BJP leader's characterization of the event—has intensified the dispute, turning a local criminal incident into a heated state-level political issue.
