Congress, BJP Spar Over Attacks As Political Tensions Rise in Keralam

Thiruvananthapuram: The Congress on Wednesday alleged that its party offices were attacked and several local leaders threatened by "BJP criminals" in this district, escalating the political slugfest between the two parties following the recent waving of black flags at Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Keralam.

The BJP, however, hit back with a counter-allegation, with state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar claiming that the party's Thiruvananthapuram South district president Mookkampalamoodu Biju was brutally attacked by Congress workers and describing the incident as a "brazen display" of the grand old party's "descent into political thuggery."

Stones were pelted at the Thiruvananthapuram District Congress Committee (DCC) office and the Anavoor mandalam committee office was set on fire last night.

Besides that, the Thiruvananthapuram District Committee secretary was threatened at his home by "BJP criminals" who also made threats against other local leaders in Neyyatinkara here, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief Sunny Joseph alleged.

Joseph, also the State Electricity Minister, told reporters that these attacks were a continuation of the Yuva Morcha's black flag protests against the CM and other ministers.

He told reporters that after the Yuva Morcha activists blocked state Sports Minister O J Janeesh's vehicle a day ago and waved black flags at him, it led to an argument between them and Congress workers.

"Subsequently, BJP criminals allegedly threatened the District Committee secretary at his house. They also threatened local Congress leaders at other places in the Neyyatinkara area," he claimed after visiting the Thiruvananthapuram DCC office.

He also alleged that the attacks took place with the active knowledge, support and encouragement of the BJP leadership in the state.

Demanding strict police action against the perpetrators, Joseph contended that "BJP's politics of violence will not be allowed in the state. Congress workers and the people will raise strong protest against the same."

A protest march was later held in the state capital by the Congress.

During the march, some party activists damaged a flag-pole and notice board of an organisation connected with the BJP.

Joseph also claimed that the attacks against the Congress were being carried out to divert attention from the nationwide protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar by the opposition parties.

"This is politics of goondaism," he alleged.

Meanwhile, in an 'X' post, Chandrasekhar termed the attack on the BJP leader as the "latest proof of the collapse of law and order in Keralam under this Congress/IUML administration."

"It is the same destructive politics of @RahulGandhi's Congress that engineered the security breach during our Union Home Minister @AmitShah ji's visit to Kollam. The @VDSatheesan government controlled by the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), continues to show its disregard for the Constitution and the rule of law.

"They routinely abuse their office and violate their constitutional oaths for personal gains and to target the opposition, while the people of Keralam suffer under zero governance and #APAKADAM (dangerous) politics," he alleged.

The BJP MLA from Nemom said that if the Congress thinks it can use 'goondas' against the saffron party, "every karyakarta will take to the streets."

"The police must take immediate and strict action against those who attacked Biju. If this government and the police fail to act, there will be severe, uncompromising democratic consequences," he warned.

Earlier, State Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, who also visited the DCC office, condemned the attacks and assured strict action against the culprits.

While declining to comment on who he thought was behind the two incidents, Chennithala said the police will investigate and find out the culprits.

"The police is investigating the matter by going through the CCTV footages to identify the culprits. There will be strong action against the attackers, whosoever they may be," he told reporters.

The minister also said that while everyone has the right to protest, if it becomes violent, police will take action accordingly.

He was replying to reporters' queries whether the attacks and the black flags being shown to the CM, himself and other ministers by Yuva Morcha activists were related.

Conveying his strong protest over the attacks, Chennithala further said that he does not know what was the intention behind them, "but it cannot be allowed in a democratic system."

He also said that party offices are never attacked anywhere in Keralam as "that is not our culture".

At the Anavoor mandalam committee office, a local party leader said that witnesses saw a BJP activist pouring something on the posters of Chief Minister V D Satheesan and late former CM Oommen Chandy on the office compound wall and setting it on fire.

"Due to the locals intervention, the fire did not spread to the office, but the posters were destroyed," he told a TV channel.

Yuva Morcha activists have been showing black flags and blocking the vehicles of the CM and other ministers ever since Youth Congress workers waved black flags at Union Home Minister Amit Shah when he was in Keralam recently.

The BJP and Yuva Morcha have termed the incident as a breach in Shah's security and have demanded action against those involved.

They have also warned that their black flag protests will continue till action is taken in the matter.