Thiruvananthapuram, India – The arrest of Kerala Youth Congress president Rahul Mamkootathil in connection with a recent violent protest has sparked tension and criticism against the CPI(M)-led government on Wednesday, 10 January. The Congress has accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of making a “political decision” and using police action to settle personal vendettas.
The arrest led to a protest march to the Secretariat in the capital city, prompting the police to use water cannons to disperse agitated Youth Congress activists. The Congress argued that if anyone should be held accountable for inciting violence, it should be Chief Minister Vijayan himself.
After visiting Mamkootathil at the Central Prison, senior party leader and Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, VD Satheesan, stated that the party would persist in its fight until Vijayan was ousted from power.
The ruling CPI(M), however, justified the arrest, calling it a “natural procedure” to maintain peace in the state. The party accused the Youth Congress president of submitting a fake medical certificate to obtain bail and urged the Congress to face legal action with courage.
Mamkootathil was arrested for allegedly leading violent attacks during a recent march and was remanded to judicial custody. The state witnessed widespread protests following the arrest, with Youth Congress workers expressing their discontent and claiming atrocities against their members during the state government’s Nava Kerala Sadas program.
The tension and criticism surrounding Mamkootathil’s arrest continue to intensify, with both the opposition Congress party and the ruling CPI(M) justifying their positions as the legal proceedings unfold. The arrest and subsequent protests highlight the deep political divisions and ongoing power struggles within the state of Kerala.