When the world is celebrating Christmas, Viji, wife of Sanal Kumar, is on a hunger strike in front of the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram.
On Tuesday, her protest in front of the state administrative headquarters entered the 16th day, demanding the government to provide the promised compensation. “I choose today as the day for hunger strike as it is Christmas Day, when there is celebration everywhere, to assert the cause of my protest,” Viji tells TNM.
On Friday, Viji had collapsed at the protest venue after her blood pressure varied, and was admitted at the General Hospital. “It was because I have less sleep after my husband died, even after being admitted at the hospital I am not able to sleep well. Most of the days, my children would also come with me, but they are sick now, and hence I haven’t brought them for some days. I don’t know what I will do when their school will reopen after Christmas holidays,” she says.
From January 1 onwards, Sanal Kumar’s mother 52-year-old Remani will be on hunger strike at the same venue, while Viji will also continue her protest. Viji hasn’t stopped her protest even though doctors have advised her to take rest for two weeks. “It was a purposeful decision to hold hunger strike on the day of Christmas, to let the public know how relevant our protest is,” Viji’s father Varghese says.
Although the family expected the government to declare its compensation after the cabinet meeting last Wednesday, the meet failed to do so.
The government has not granted even the initial compensation of Rs 10,000 to the family. Three ministers had visited the family and promised a job for Viji and compensation for the family.
32- year old Sanal kumar died on November 5 following an altercation and assault by Deputy Superintendent of Police B Harikumar. Sanal Kumar was mowed down by an approaching vehicle after he was pushed by Harikumar following an altercation.
Harikumar wanted Sanal to remove his car that was parked on the road. When Sanal delayed it by a few minutes, it angered Harikumar.
Sanal Kumar was an electrician hailing from Kodungavilla, near Neyyantinkara, on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram. He was the sole breadwinner of the family and his death left Viji and their two children in distress. The family now has to depend on their relatives and has a mounting loan of Rs 25 lakh.
On November 13, Harikumar was found hanging from his house in Kallambalam, after he went absconding for nine days following Sanal's death.