Kerala CM Vijayan says Opposition disturbed over Nava Kerala Sadas; alleges a section of Congress is siding with communalism

Damaging the large number of banners and boards of the programme by the Opposition youth outfits won’t prevent people from taking part in the outreach event, he said.

The Chief Minister was addressing a press conference in nearby Kattakkada on the sidelines of the programme.

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‘New generation is giving immense support’

“The new generation is giving immense support to the state government. This support is disturbing certain people. The attitude being showcased by the Congress party and its youth outfits ever since the beginning of the Nava Kerala Sadas is its reflection,” he said.

Protesters jumping in front of vehicles was their initial mode of protest and at one point, it reached the level of throwing shoes at our bus, he alleged.

Eventually, they started damaging the propaganda machineries of the programme like boards and banners, he further said.

“Hundreds of boards and banners of Nava Kerala Sadas were vandalised in the state capital on Thursday and the day before,” Vijayan further said.

He accused the Congress leadership of creating a violent mindset among its workers.

The Left veteran cautioned that the outreach programme has been viewed as an initiative of the state by its people and any activities and propaganda against it would be considered by them as a move against Kerala.

“There is only one day left for the culmination of the Nava Kerala Sadas. My request to the Opposition is that it is better to correct yourself if possible,” he said.

The Chief Minister also requested the Opposition to join the initiative intended for the progress of the state.

‘Section of Congress sided with communalism’

Reacting to a query on KPCC chief K Sudhakaran’s expression of support for the alleged nomination of Hindu right-wing supporters to university senates by Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, acting in his capacity as the Chancellor, the Chief Minister said a section of Congress in the state sided with communalism.

“Sudhakaran was revealing his thoughts. There is a section in the Congress that thinks similarly, and this reflects a weakness within the party,” Vijayan said.

“Some members of the Congress believe that they can side with communalism. The party lacks the strength to take a firm stance against such sections, which is why it attempts to reach a compromise with them,” he said at a press conference at nearby Kattakada.

The media interaction was organised as part of the state government’s outreach programme, Nava Kerala Sadas.

The veteran Marxist leader said, “Congress is suffering from this unfortunate situation.”

“They (the Congress) fail to recognise that this perspective is causing trouble for the party,” he said.

A row had erupted in Kerala recently over the statement of Sudhakaran who said that Sangh Parivar is a party in democracy, and therefore, there is no reason to oppose the nomination of qualified individuals to the university senates, even if they are affiliated with such outfits.

Sudhakaran had also said that Congress will examine whether the nominees of the Chancellor are qualified and eligible for their posts. If they are found to be unqualified, the party would oppose such appointments, he said.

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Protests turned violent

A march organised by the Kerala Students’ Union (KSU) to the office of the Director General of Police (DGP) turned violent on Thursday, 21 December, leading to clashes between the police and protesting students.

KSU is the student outfit of the Opposition Congress in Kerala. The protest organised in the state capital aimed to condemn the alleged attacks on KSU and Youth Congress activists by members of the ruling CPI(M), its youth outfit Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s gunman.

Meanwhile, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor slammed the Kerala police for manhandling his party colleague and Muvattupuzha MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan.

KPCC general secretary Kuzhalnadan, who had been present since the beginning of the march, attempted to intervene and was allegedly beaten up by the police.

Kuzhalnadan criticised the police’s use of force, claiming that the violence occurred without any provocation. He said that the Congress party would continue to protest.

Tharoor said in a post on X that the party would move legally against the Kerala police brutality that broke the MLA’s forearm.

(With PTI inputs)