Activists of the Youth Congress and the Kerala Students Union (KSU) on Saturday showed black flags at Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan near the Secretariat as part of their agitation over the issue of fee and admission in private medical colleges.
The police said some protesters showed black flags at the Chief Minister’s vehicle near the Cantonment Gate of the Secretariat. The protesters were immediately taken away by the police.
Tension prevailed in front of the Secretariat after some protesters blocked the movement of Forest Minister K. Raju’s vehicle in the morning as part of the hunger strike of Youth Congress State president Dean Kuriakose, along with another activist Mahesh, which entered the fifth day. The police chased the protesters with lathis and used water cannons to disperse them.
Reacting to the incident, Mr. Raju said it was “quite unexpected” and should not have happened. He claimed that the protesters banged on his car and waved black flags.
Meanwhile, two Congress MLAs - K. Sabarinathan and M. Vincent - staged a dharna in front of a police station demanding immediate release of party workers taken into custody in connection with the incidents.
Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala condemned the alleged police action against the Congress activists.
The Youth Congress was demanding scrapping of the agreement between the government and the managements of self-financing medical colleges, maintaining that the new fee structure was “very high.” - PTI
Protest in Kannur
Youth Congress workers waved black flags at Health Minister K.K. Shylaja here on Saturday. Ms. Shylaja was attending a programme organised by the Information and Public Relations Department here to mark the 100th day of the LDF government when the protesters, led by Youth Congress leader Rijil Makutty, staged the black-flag protest against the Minister.
