KPCC chief describes midnight police raid as ‘disgraceful rowdyism’

UDF protests police raids on Congress women leaders, accusing CPI(M) and BJP of collusion, demanding accountability and legal action.

The United Democratic Front (UDF) took out a protest march to the District Police Chief’s (DCP) office here on Wednesday condemning the midnight police raids on the hotel rooms of women leaders of the Congress.

The police had raided a dozen-odd rooms at KPM Regency Hotel here, including that of Shanimol Usman and Bindu Krishna, in search of black money in the early hours of Wednesday. The raid, in which no black money was recovered, led to a rancorous face-off between the UDF and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)]-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and activists.

A large number of UDF men and women marched to the DCP’s office, expressing their anger at the police action. A large posse of police personnel blocked them many yards ahead of the office.

Inaugurating the protest, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president K. Sudhakaran said it was disgraceful rowdyism by the police. “You (the police) should have at least said a ‘sorry’ after that midnight action. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan may support your action, but the people of Kerala will not,” he said, adding that the police should explain who ordered the disgraceful raids.

Mr. Sudhakaran said that the UDF would fight the police excesses legally. “Though you have insulted our sisters such as Shanimol Usman and Bindu Krishna, your actions are ultimately going to be beneficial to us. UDF candidate Rahul Mamkootathil’s stars have brightened. He is going to double his margin of victory with this,” the KPCC leader said.

Mr. Sudhakaran reiterated that the midnight raids were a drama plotted by the CPI(M) to help the BJP cover the involvement of BJP State president K. Surendran in the Kodakara black money case. “Has anyone made more black money in this State than Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan?” he asked.

The KPCC president warned the CPI(M) supporters that they were going through the worst political period of their party. “We want the Left to exist; but you (CPI(M) supporters) should realise the current situation. People will soon reject the CPI(M) decisively in the coming elections,” he said.