By IANS
Kozhikode (Kerala) : Kerala witnessed political ruckus Saturday over an attack on opposition leader Oommen Chandy at Kasargod, about 650 km from state capital Thiruvananthapuram.
The alleged CPI-M activists pelted stoned stones at Chandy and Congress activists Friday while they were attending a party meeting at Uduma in Kasargod district. The Congress leaders had to cancel the function because of the attack. Chandy, however, escaped unhurt.
In Thiruvananthapuram, Congress activists took out a procession in front of the secretariat protesting against the attack and there were mild clashes between policemen and the protestors.
Reacting to the attack, Chandy said here that the incident “revealed the fascist face of CPI-M”. He was speaking to reporters after attending a function by a Muslim religious organisation.
“The police are afraid of CPI-M. That is why they are hesitant to take action,” he said.
State Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, who came to attend the same function moments later, said he has asked the inspector general of police to inquire into the incident. “We will take action against the guilty after getting the report,” he added.
G. Karthikeyan, deputy leader of Congress legislature party, criticised Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan in Thiruvananthapuram for not condemning the attack on Chandy. “It is regrettable that the chief minister did not condemn the incident,” Karthikeyan said.
Meanwhile, the police have arrested four people, reportedly CPI-M activists, in Kasargod Saturday afternoon in connection with the incident. The police have also arrested seven opposition activists for damaging houses in retaliatory attack.