CM: Attack on health minister not a protest

T'puram: Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said KSU's protest against health minister Veena George was a heinous political act by the Congress. "The health minister was injured at Kannur railway station. It was not a protest but an attack by a group of assailants. She was attacked while walking on the platform," he said.Kerala has the best healthcare sector in the country, recognized by official agencies. Yet some incidents are exaggerated to target a minister, who is not involved in any way. This is a political disgrace, he added.
He said Congress leaders should not think they can disrupt peace or incite riots by sending their followers. "KSU attackers reflect their style of tarnishing politics with baseless allegations. This is extremely deplorable and deserves condemnation," he said.CPM condemns KSU stirCPM general secretary M A Baby condemned KSU's protest against health minister Veena George on Wednesday. Baby called it an ‘attack' against the minister and said the opposition was using criminal groups to disrupt law and order to gain power."Protests and opposition are natural in a democracy. Instead of engaging in democratic protests, opposition organizations chose the path of violence. This is disgraceful and insults Kerala's cultural ethos," Baby said. He added that Congress and UDF leaders should clarify their stance on KSU's protest and disown those who attacked the minister."CPM and LDF workers should not fall for the opposition's tactics that aim to create unrest and chaos in Kerala. Recognizing these devious plans, peaceful and democratic protests should be conducted across Kerala. Police must identify the attackers and ensure they are punished appropriately," Baby said in a statement.Meanwhile, CPM state secretariat issued a statement that Congress resorted to a despicable tactic of physically attacking and attempting to murder a minister because it could not challenge LDF politically. "This is extremely condemnable and deplorable. For the first time in Kerala's history, a woman minister was attacked. The fear of defeat in upcoming assembly elections is driving UDF and Congress to commit unjustifiable acts of violence," it claimed in its statement.