The United Democratic Front (UDF) MLAs in Kerala protested inside the state assembly on Wednesday morning, entering the Speaker's podium holding a blood stained vest. The opposition was livid at the government as Congress MLA Shafi Parambil and Abhijith, the state president of the Kerala Students Union (KSU- Congress students wing) were assaulted by police during a protest march in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday.
Aluva MLA Anwar Sadath held Abhijith's blood stained vest in his hands, as he and other MLAs raised slogans and entered the Speaker's well. MLAs also held posters that had pictures of the injured MLA and the KSU leader.
The assembly was adjourned for a while, but even it reconvened, UDF members raised slogans accusing the government of running a 'police state' and demanded that the police officers who injured Shafi and Abhijit be suspended.
Thrithala Congress MLA VT Balram moved a motion to discuss the police action against Congress leaders.
"The protest was over. There were some skirmishes and police used water cannons, but that happens all the time. It is after the protest, when police was taking away KSU activists, that four of them shouted slogans in front of a police jeep. The police hit Abhijit and others brutally after this," VT Balram told the assembly. Slamming the government for unleashing the police on student activists, Balram compared Pinarayi's use of police force to what Narendra Modi led government does. He also asked if it was Pinarayi's police or a police force of monkeys.
On Tuesday, the KSU had called for a march to the Kerala legislative assembly. The protest was primarily against the irregularities and manipulation of marks in Kerala University and also seeking justice for the two minor sisters in Walayar.
Initially, police used water cannons and tear gas when protestors broke police barricades. Following this, there was a clash between protesters and the police. However, things got out of control wen KSU activists raised slogans in front of a police jeep that was preparing to take Abhijit away.
MLA Shafi was hit on his head and was also bitten on his fingers. Visuals showed a group of policemen hitting Abhijith with lathis as he lay on the ground.
Shafi has said that they protested in a democratic manner and that the opposition will continue protesting for the same cause.