A clash broke out in Kerala’s Ernakulam at a protest organised by the Congress against fuel price hike. The protest caused a huge traffic jam for close to two hours on the Edappally-Vytilla highway. Actor Joju George, who was passing by the protest site, reportedly questioned the Congress workers, following which the window panes of his vehicle were allegedly broken by the protesters.
“I’m not here to show off. It’s been two hours and the vehicles are blocked. What kind of dirty programme is this? This shows the condition of our state,” the actor was heard shouting in a video shot at the protest.
Joju told the media that he questioned the protest because it was causing trouble for the public, but Congress workers alleged that the actor misbehaved with them, including women protesters. They also said that they would file a complaint with the police and alleged that Joju was drunk and broke the glass of his vehicle himself. Even Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president K Sudhakaran alleged that Joju was drunk.
However, Joju George went for a blood test with the police, following which it was established that he was not drunk. Reports said he himself asked for a blood test to prove that he was not drunk. Joju also denied misbehaving with women, saying that he did not even see any women protesters.
“I just told the protesters there that what they were doing was not right. I was not talking to any political party. I was just talking to the people who caused a road block there. The major leaders there abused my father and mother by calling me names. My reaction was my protest against those who blocked the road,” Joju told the media.
Meanwhile, K Sudhakaran hinted in a press meet that if the Kerala government didn’t take any action against Joju, the party would react. The police, meanwhile, said that the Congress did not take permission before conducting the protest by blocking the road.