BJP march over Sabarimala issue turns violent
Team Udayavani, Dec 10, 2018, 4:03 PM IST
Thiruvananthapuram: The BJP’s “secretariat march” over the Sabarimala issue here on Monday turned violent, prompting police to use water cannon and tear gas to disperse the protesters.
The day also saw the Congress-led UDF take out a march to the state Assembly over the same issue.
The BJP and the UDF marched separately, demanding the LDF government’s intervention to end the agitation by their respective leaders for withdrawal of the prohibitory orders around Sabarimala.
The BJP workers threw stones and hurled chairs at police personnel outside the state secretariat when the latter stopped them from proceeding further.
The party had announced the march as part of its intensifying protests over the Sabarimala issue.
The protesters raised slogans demanding the government’s intervention to end the eight-day-old indefinite fast of BJP general secretary A N Radhakrishnan.
Subsequently, police used water cannon and tear gas to disperse the protesters.
Protesting against the police action, BJP workers, led by general secretary Shobha Surendran and Thiruvananthapuram district president S Suresh, squatted on the road and raised slogans.
Radhakrishnan has been on an indefinite fast in front of the secretariat building since December 3, demanding the withdrawal of prohibitory orders and various cases registered against party general secretary K Surendran over the Sabarimala protests.
BJP workers, who took out marches at Kottayam, Kochi and Kozhikode, were also stopped by police.
Union Minister Alphons Kannanthanam visited Radhakrishnan at the agitation venue in the state capital.
Kannanthanam later told reporters that the state government should withdraw the ban orders imposed at Sabarimala and all the “false” cases against the BJP workers over the protests at the hill shrine.
The CPI(M)-led LDF government must understand the sentiments of the people and take the initiative to end the “hunger strike” of Radhakrishnan, he said.
“Why should Section 144 be imposed in Sabarimala. It is stated that devotees are chanting “nama japam” (Chanting of Ayyappa mantras). Is it a criminal activity?” Kannanthanam asked.
By using tear gas shells and force, government was trying to suppress the protests against the restrictions and prohibitory orders, he said, adding that it was “undemocratic”.
The opposition UDF took out the march demanding that the government intervene and end the indefinite ‘satyagraha’ by its three MLAs V S Sivakumar, Parackal Abdulla and M Jayaraj in the portals of the House since the past eight days over the prohibitory orders in Sabarimala.
Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly Ramesh Chennithala and former chief minister Oommen Chandy addressed the workers.
Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.
Top News
Related Articles More
Can’t control elections or pass directions on basis of suspicion: SC tells EVM critics
Not shying away from dealing with stray dogs issue but will not allow scope to be expanded, says SC
Delhi: Man standing atop truck dies after his head hits metro station beam
Bullet train project completion date rests on award of all tenders, says Railways in RTI reply
What ‘nyay’ Cong can do, when its councillor’s daughter in K’taka doesn’t get justice: Thakur
MUST WATCH
Latest Additions
WATCH: 5 runaway military horses cause mayhem in London
FIR filed over BJP’s social media post allegedly promoting hatred and enmity: EC
Can’t control elections or pass directions on basis of suspicion: SC tells EVM critics
Amitabh Bachchan receives Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Puraskar
Hubballi: Congress leader Randeep Surjewala visits Neha’s house, assures justice to family