Shafi Parambil, Pinarayi Vijayan | Photo: Mathrubhumi
Thiruvananthapuram: Shafi Parambil MLA on Monday that the Pinarayi Vijayan government has become the Malayalam translation of Narendra Modi rule. The leader made the remarks while giving notice for the adjournment motion in the Assembly.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan opposed the motion saying that the Youth Congress (YC) workers were lathi-charged by the police and arrested at Kalamassery in Ernakulam district recently as they had attacked the police with sticks and stones.
Asking about why the state government is so intolerant towards protests, Shafi said, “Not having a beard, not speaking Hindi and not wearing a coat should not be the only difference between Modi and Vijayan. While Akash Thillankeri is roaming free, they are eager to arrest PK Feroze.”
In response to Shafi Parambil’s remarks, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that there is a planned attempt to create dangerous situations in the name of black flag protests. The police are taking measures to avoid such scenarios.
“The Kerala Chief Minister only has the security which is provided to a person with Z Plus security as per its natural protocol. When three or four people try to jump in front of the escort vehicles, they may not think of the consequences. However, those who are behind them clearly know the repercussions,” Vijayan said.
“In short, the chief minister’s entourage is not arranged as per the direction of the chief minister. The stance of opposing anything based on political positions should be changed,” he added.
"Six Civil police officers and six YC workers were injured in the violence. They were also provided medical aid. Twelve YC workers were arrested and a case has been lodged against them," Vijayan said in the House.
The Congress-led UDF, on the other hand claimed in the adjournment motion moved by Parambil and some other MLAs that the YC workers were attacked from behind by police and denied that they had thrown sticks and stones at the police.
The opposition also accused the Left government in Kerala of being a Malayalam version of the Narendra Modi regime at the Centre.
In view of Vijayan saying that the issue raised by the opposition was not serious enough to adjourn the House, Speaker A N Shamseer denied permission for the same.
However, during the walkout speech by Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan, the ruling front MLAs started shouting and despite repeated directions by the Speaker they did not sit down in their seats leading to UDF legislators trooping into the well of the House and raising placards, banner and slogans in front of the Speaker's dais.
As both sides refused to follow the repeated directions of the Speaker to resume their seats, he stopped the House proceedings for nearly half an hour.
Thereafter, the proceedings recommenced and the LoP was allowed to continue his walkout speech.
The opposition was protesting against the preventive detention of its party's youth wing workers during Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's recent visits to various districts in the state.
It also claimed that police had "cruelly attacked" protesting Youth Congress activists in Kalamassery in Ernakulam district of the state.
Several Youth Congress activists and some policemen suffered injuries when the march taken out by the workers, demanding the rollback of fuel cess and other tax proposals in the state budget, turned violent on February 21.
With PTI inputs