Shashi Tharoor Alleges Privilege Violation, Assault on Protesters in Thiruvananthapuram

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has written to Lok Sabha Speaker alleging privilege violation and assault on elected representatives during protests in Thiruvananthapuram.

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, alleging a grave violation of parliamentary privileges and a blatant assault on elected representatives and peaceful protesters in his parliamentary constituency Thiruvananthapuram.

Violent Protests in Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala, witnessed incidents of violence on Saturday during protests organized by the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC). Several senior Congress leaders, including MPs and MLAs, suffered from suffocation, and some were even hospitalized after police fired tear gas shells.

Tharoor's Letter to Birla

In a letter to Birla dated December 23, Tharoor expressed his concern over the grave violation of parliamentary privileges and the assault on elected representatives and peaceful protesters. He described the incident as a peaceful protest condemning the recent spate of excesses by law enforcement agencies, particularly the Kerala Police, against those critical of the current state government.

Unprovoked Police Action

Tharoor highlighted that the organizers of the rally had obtained the necessary permissions from various authorities to hold the protest. However, without any provocation or warning, tear gas shells were fired, landing just behind the stage while the Leader of the Opposition was addressing the rally. This was followed by a fusillade of more tear gas shells and the use of water cannons by the police to break up the rally.

Breach of Parliamentary Privileges

Tharoor emphasized that the firing of tear gas shells against the stage, occupied by senior public representatives, MPs, and MLAs, clearly involves a serious breach of parliamentary privileges and immunities. He urged Birla, as the custodian of the House, to look into the matter at the earliest and initiate necessary action and strictures in a time-bound manner.

Assault on Democratic Liberties

Tharoor asserted that the manner in which elected representatives and hundreds of other victims were brutally assaulted by the Kerala Police, using the highest-grade tear gas and water cannons against a peaceful protest rally, is a serious infringement on their basic democratic liberties. He demanded an immediate investigation into the incident.

Shashi Tharoor's letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla highlights the grave concerns over the violation of parliamentary privileges and the assault on elected representatives and peaceful protesters in Thiruvananthapuram. The incident raises serious questions about the excessive use of force by the Kerala Police and the infringement of democratic liberties. It is crucial that the matter is thoroughly investigated, and appropriate action is taken to uphold the rights and privileges of elected representatives and citizens.