Thiruvananthapuram: The UDF and BJP rushed to cash in on the police attack in front of the DGP’s office. Senior Congress leader A. K. Antony, meanwhile, lashed out at the Left in New Delhi calling it as the darkest day when it was celebrating the diamond jubilee of the first elected government. He said if the government had got any decency, they should call off celebrations.
“Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan should apologise to Mahija. The family was not at the DGP's office as part of a political fight. In fact, the mother had come there in pain after losing her only son," he said.
He lamented that the Kerala police had not only humiliated her but injured her, which was unheard of in the state.
“Only a person who has become numb with no humanity can behave in such a manner," he said. Mr Antony recalled that the family of Prannoy had intimated the police team of their arrival. When Mr Vijayan and his cabinet ministers should have taken steps to avoid the protest, they cited technical difficulties.
“Those officials who had behaved rudely to the family do not deserve pardon. They should be given exemplary punishment. The hartal does not have any political connection. People of Kerala who got a conscience and a sense of justice should support it,” he added.
Former chief minister Oommen Chandy said the police action brought shame to the state. The authorities should have realised the pain of the mother who lost her son tragically.
“Her opposition should not have been seen as a protest. It is not the technicality which matters, but humanism for a democratically elected government,” he said.
BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan described it as a shadow of the Emergency. “CM celebrated the golden jubilee of the first government by dragging a woman on the streets,” he said.
BJP legislator O. Rajagopal also boycotted the celebrations along with other opposition leaders.
"Under no circumstances can the police action be defended," he said.
He alleged that the police dragged and bundled the family into their vehicle hurling expletives at them. Congress legislator K. Muraleedharan also condemned the police action.
