Kerala Oppn walk out on police action against YC men

Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 17 (UNI) The Congress-led Opposition today staged a walk out in the Kerala Assembly protesting police action on Youth Congress activists.

Moving the adjournment motion, Congress Leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said the police resorted to lathicharge without any provocation resulting in several Youth Congress activists sustaining injuries.

Condemning the police action, he said the government was trying to suppress the freedom of holding agitations and protests.

Police entered the 'sathyagraha pandal' in front of the State Secretariat where Youth Congress President T Siddique was staging an indefinite fast on the controversial Standard VII Social text book and without any provocation, resorted to lathi charge, he claimed.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said the activists turned violent without any provocation. Everyone had the right to protest but no government would keep silent when they turned violent, he said adding protests should be conducted in a democratic way.

After Mr Balakrishnan's reply, Speaker K Radhakrishnan denied the adjournment motion.

Before leading his colleagues out of the House, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Oommen Chandy said the government was using police force for political gains.

The government should not think that protests could be suppressed in this way, he said.

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