In his petition, the Chief Minister argued that his speech did not encourage violence. Instead, he said he had praised bystanders who had prevented protestors from falling in front of his moving vehicle, describing their actions as “life-saving”.
Published Jul 17, 2025 | 7:06 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 17, 2025 | 7:06 PM
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan (Supplied)
Synopsis: The Kerala High Court on Thursday granted Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan a three-month interim stay in a criminal case concerning a speech he delivered during the 2023 ‘Nava Kerala Sadas’ tour. The case stems from a complaint filed by Congress leader Muhammad Shiyas, who accused the Vijayan of inciting political violence against Youth Congress cadre following black flag protests in Kannur.
The Kerala High Court on Thursday, 17 July, granted Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan a three-month interim stay in a criminal case related to a speech he made during the 2023 ‘Nava Kerala Sadas’ tour, shortly after black flag protests disrupted his convoy in Kannur.
The case arises from a complaint filed by Congress leader Muhammad Shiyas, who alleged that the speech incited political attacks on Youth Congress members in various parts of the state.
In his petition to the High Court, the Chief Minister argued that his speech did not encourage violence. Instead, he said he had praised bystanders who had prevented protestors from falling in front of his moving vehicle, describing their actions as “life-saving” – not as a provocation or a call for retaliation.
Justice VG Arun, who heard the petition, granted the interim stay on proceedings, offering a reprieve for the state government as legal scrutiny over the incident continues.
The ‘Nava Kerala Sadas’ tour, which saw the Chief Minister and his entire Cabinet travel across Kerala in a luxury bus, had become a flashpoint for political tensions.
The journey witnessed widespread protests and a flurry of FIRs related to violence, further amplifying the controversy surrounding the Chief Minister’s remarks.
Speaking to the media in Kannur on 21 November, Vijayan sought to counter the Congress’s allegation that workers of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and its youth wing, the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), had unleashed wanton violence against Opposition activists who had staged a “peaceful” black flag demonstration at the motorcade ferrying the Cabinet from a Nava Kerala Sadas venue in Kannur on 20 November.
He said DYFI workers had prevented a Congress worker who had tried to throw himself in front of the moving bus transporting the Cabinet.
“I was sitting in the front seat. I saw the DYFI activists preventing the person from committing a suicidal act under the pretext of staging a democratic protest. In such life-threatening situations, rescuers might tend to use force to save the person from death. I hope the DYFI would continue to deter such daredevilry that imperils human life,” Vijayan said, as reported by The Hindu.
Despite the police filing a report under Section 202 of the CrPC that found no incriminating evidence against the Chief Minister, the Ernakulam Chief Judicial Magistrate rejected the report.
The magistrate concluded that the speech prima facie amounted to abetment of criminal offences and decided to take cognisance of the complaint.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
