LDF is protecting hooligans: Ommen Chandy

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 20 (UNI) Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Legislative Assembly Oommen Chandy today alleged that the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government had given ''full protection to the hooligans'' during the nationwide general strike called by the Left-supported trade unions against the UPA government's anti-people policies and rising food prices.

Talking to reporters here, he said such irresponsible attitude of police had never been seen and charged that the police had given full protection to those who picketed trains at various stations because of which several employees could not go to their offices.

Stating that the UDF was not against strikes, he said it should never cause hardships to the public and allow those who wanted to work.

Mr Chandy alleged that the agitators manhandled employees who had expressed their wish to work in many places in the state.

''I am not questioning the right of strike. However, the government has a moral responsibility to give protection to those who wished to work and it is the government's obligation to ensure the safety of those employees,'' he pointed out.

The Opposition leader alleged that even media came under severe attack at many places, including Kozhikode and Kannur.

Reading out a communication from a police official to the Technopark authorities here, asking them to direct the IT companies to leave all their employees by 2200 hours yesterday, he said it was for the first time that such a request was made by a police official.

Even the agitators picketed the main gate of the Technopark campus preventing employees to enter the premises, however, 90 per cent of its employees worked as usual, he added.

If the communication was not with the connivance of the government it should have taken action against the official, the leader said.

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