Thanks to the violent turn of events after a protest march by Youth Congress activists on Thursday, the Janakeeya Samara Samiti, which had been running a campaign against the shifting of a Consumerfed liquor outlet to the largely residential area of Chettichira near Ponnurunni, went totally missing from the scene on Friday.
A collective of residents associations, apartment owners, and activists, cutting across party lines, the Samiti had been in the forefront of the protest ever since the outlet was shifted from Vyttila junction on Tuesday evening.
Samiti members, including women, had been active as their peaceful protest served the twin purpose of registering their stern opposition to the relocation of the outlet and preventing it from doing business. However, it all changed with the emergence of Hibi Eden, MLA, though the area was not part of his constituency. He was at the spot on the request of his friends staying in a nearby apartment complex. It was followed by a protest march by Youth Congress activists. The march turned violent when the protesters barged into the outlet, bringing the police, who till then had let the protest to continue, into action. “They [Youth Congress activists] effectively hijacked the protest, which was quite peaceful until then. Our association has now decided to withdraw from the Janakeeya Samara Samiti as our members are not keen on taking part in the protest in such a vitiated atmosphere,” said P.G. Jayamohan, secretary of Lal Salam Residents Association.
Meanwhile, A.R. Padmadas, vice-president of the Youth Congress Thrikkakara Assembly Constituency, claimed that Thursday’s protest march was part of the Samiti’s plans, and that it had turned violent after a “urine-like liquid” was thrown on the protesters, including Mr. Eden. Youth Congress activists took out another march to the outlet on Friday but were promptly arrested and removed from the scene by the police, he added. However, Samiti representatives shot down the claim that Thursday’s march by Youth Congress activists was part of their protest.
“The protest had been progressing in a very peaceful manner, and there was a tacit understanding among protesters, police, and even the staff at the outlet, and we were able to stop business at the outlet. Now, the situation has changed, and with the police not allowing anyone near the outlet, we cannot stop it from doing business either. Besides, women who were active in the protest are now reluctant,” said K.K. Pradeep, secretary of Sahakarana Residents Association.
Though the association has not announced its withdrawal from the agitation, it has adopted a wait-and-watch approach to see the outcome of a petition filed before the court against relocating the outlet, citing the presence of an anganwadi and a primary health centre for women in the vicinity, and the worsening traffic in the area.
Rajeev K. Chandrasekharan, Ponnurunni councillor, admitted that the turn of events had taken a toll on the effectiveness of Janakeeya Samara Samiti. “People agreed to join hands on condition that there would be no politics, which now stands violated. Members of the Samiti, including residents associations, have conveyed their reluctance to go ahead with the protest,” he said.
Mr. Chandrasekharan added that he had verbally requested the Mayor not to issue the D&O licence to the outlet and to refer the matter to the council if an application was received.
