THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPM State Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday alleged that communal and fundamentalist forces of all hues had unleashed terror on peaceful protesters at the Marine Drive in Kochi with the blessings of the police.
In a statement here, Pinarayi termed as ridiculous, the police version that precaution was taken to protect the protesters. “Under which deal did the Government adopt a soft approach towards the violent mob which attacked peaceful protesters? The Government owes an explanation to the people. Did the Government reach an understanding with fundamentalist and extremist outfits at the local level or at the State and Central level? If so, then the people would like to know what the understanding was,'' he said.
The CPM State Secretary said the scenario at Marine Drive turned tense just because of some elements who wanted to stall the peaceful protest. Reports suggested that the police had resorted to lathicharge, he said, and pointed out that even a couple of journalists and scores of protesters had sustained injuries. “But the police was seen protecting the men who had come to the ground armed with the sole aim of wrecking the protest. They even raised provocative slogans,'' he added.
Pinarayi said that no moral police would be permitted to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in the State. "Such incidents can be prevented only if the police and other law enforcing agencies function fearlessly and in a free manner. At the moment the police is being used for protecting anti-socials,'' he said and termed the situation "highly deplorable and dangerous."
He said the right to protest was democratically accepted in the State. There could be divergent views when people resorted to methods which were not conventional. While people were free to take a stand on such protests, the Government's dubious stand on Sunday was completely shocking, he added.
