CPI(M) and Congress squabble over whether KSU activists injured Health Minister Veena George during black flag protest in Kannur

Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Congress squabbled on the street and the social media over whether Kerala Students Union (KSU) activists had injured Health Minister Veena George during an opposition black flag protest at the Kannur railway station on Wednesday.

CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan denied the Congress’s accusation that Ms. George had feigned injury as an afterthought, and on receiving a phone call from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The Chief Minister later visited her at the hospital.

Mr. Govindan accused the Congress of blurring the line between democratic protest and mob violence. “Congress has debased itself by physically targeting a woman Minister, including attacking her official residence,” he said.

Congress accused Ms. George of resorting to melodrama to “imbue herself with a martyr’s image” and divert public attention from medical negligence deaths bedevilling the State’s “declining” public health sector.

Congress lampooned Ms. George by sharing on social media pictures of her participating in a school-level “mono acting” competition in the early 1990s.

Congress leaders K. Sudhakaran and K. Muraleedharan, rather sardonically, lauded Ms George’s “histrionic talents”.

‘Produce evidence’

Youth Congress offered prizes ranging from biriyani to one sovereign of gold as rewards for individuals producing proof of KSU workers attacking Ms. George.

Congress leader Chandy Oommen posted a photograph of late Chief Minister Oommen Chandy injured in a stone-throwing attack by CPI(M) activists during the Solar Scam protests in Kannur in 2013. He alleged that then CPI(M) State secretary, Pinarayi Vijayan, had stated that the Chief Minister was “thick-skinned, and hence no damage done”.

CPI(M) sought to portray Congress as inherently misogynistic and raked over rape accusations against Opposition legislators, chiefly Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil (expelled from Congress).

CPI(M) social media chiefly singled out the Leader of the Opposition, V D Satheesan, for criticism, accusing him of presiding over a band of criminals.

Satheesan hits back

Mr Satheesan struck back by stating that CPI(M) had scripted Ms George’s “railway station act”. He slammed the government for slapping trumped-up attempted murder charges against a motley crew of peaceful KSU protestors.

He said the CPI(M) version of the events was highly improbable and absurd theatre. “A security ring comprising 50 officers cocooned the Minister, making it impossible for four activists to reach her,” he said.

Both parties appeared keen on Thursday to dial down the tensions that broke out, chiefly in Kannur, following the KSU protest, leaders appealing for calm. The police seemed risk-averse and posted pickets at Congress and CPI(M) offices across the State.