How did Amit Shah protest video disappear? Kerala minister Janeesh explains amid flak over withdrawal

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Minister O.J. Janeesh has explained the withdrawal of a video showing Youth Congress workers staging a black-flag protest against Union Home Minister Amit Shah from his Facebook page.

Janeesh on Monday said reports in some media outlets that the video was removed at the request of Chief Minister were incorrect.

The minister said his admin panel had posted the video in his capacity as Youth Congress president. It was later removed because its circulation from an account bearing the name of a state minister could create confusion, he said.

Janeesh denies Chief Minister’s role

In a Facebook post, Janeesh said the reports about the withdrawal of the video were not based on facts.

“The video showing Youth Congress workers showing black flags to Union Home Minister Amit Shah was posted on my social media account. The media reports being circulated about its withdrawal are not factual. The post was not withdrawn at the request of the Chief Minister,” Janeesh said.

He said the post had been published by his social media team's admin panel.

“Although the post was made on my social media account in my capacity as Youth Congress president, my office directed that the post be removed as its circulation in the name of a state minister could lead to confusion,” he said.

Janeesh added that he was attending public programmes when the post was withdrawn and was therefore unaware of the development at the time.

‘Protest followed Youth Congress national decision’

Janeesh said the protest in which Youth Congress workers showed black flags to Amit Shah was held in accordance with a general decision of the Youth Congress national committee.

He also appealed to the media to refrain from publishing reports that could create confusion over the withdrawal of the post. 

Meanwhile, Janeesh criticised the Yuva Morcha's decision to stage black-flag protests against ministers in Kerala following the Youth Congress protest against Amit Shah.

Janeesh also hit out at CPM and DYFI workers who criticised him over the withdrawal of the post.

“It is ridiculous that those criticising me over the withdrawal of the post were apparently asleep without even knowing that the Union Home Minister had come to Kerala and left,” he said.