KPCC chief seeks apology from CPI(M), Veena George over ‘false propaganda’ and attacks on Congress offices

KPCC chief Sunny Joseph demands an apology from CPI(M) and Veena George over alleged false claims regarding KSU protests.

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Sunny Joseph on Saturday demanded a public apology from Health Minister Veena George and the leadership of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)], alleging that false information was spread in connection with the recent black flag protest held by the Kerala Students’ Union (KSU), and it lead to violence against Congress offices in Kannur and other parts of the State.

Addressing mediapersons at the Kannur DCC office, Mr. Joseph said the protest organised by the KSU intended to highlight what he described as the deterioration of the Health department. He alleged that a false case had been registered claiming there was an attempt to murder the Minister, resulting in the arrest and remand of KSU activists.

“The truth has come out. There is not a single video that shows five KSU activists attacking or injuring the Minister,” he said. According to him, none of the available visuals showed the protesters physically touching or assaulting the Minister or using any weapon. The Minister was under police protection and none of the KSU workers were able to reach anywhere near her, Mr. Joseph said.

He alleged that the Minister put forward a false narrative regarding the episode, and that there were no visuals showing injuries or bruises on her. Even the medical bulletin issued by the Kannur Government Medical College Hospital did not mention such injuries, he added. He also pointed out that after the Minister’s discharge from the hospital on Friday, there was no clear information about her whereabouts.

The KPCC president said that instead of backing what he termed as false propaganda, the Chief Minister, the police, and the Health Minister should acknowledge and admit the facts, correct the mistake and withdraw the false cases charged against the KSU workers.