Kannur, 25 Feb (H.S.): Kerala Legislative Assembly Speaker A.N. Shamseer on Wednesday strongly condemned the physical assault on Health Minister Veena George during a protest staged by the Kerala Students Union (KSU) at the Kannur railway station, terming the incident unacceptable in a democratic society.
The protest, organised by KSU activists, turned chaotic when demonstrators allegedly manhandled the Minister, leaving her injured. Speaker Shamseer, who was present at the location when the incident occurred, expressed serious concern over the manner in which the protest unfolded.
Addressing the media, Mr. Shamseer said the Minister sustained significant injuries and was unable to move comfortably following the attack. “The Minister suffered injuries to her neck and hand. At one point, she was pushed after being grabbed by the neck. Such behaviour towards a woman Minister in a democratic society is completely unacceptable,” he said.
He emphasised that while protests and demonstrations are an integral part of democratic expression, resorting to physical assault crosses all limits of acceptable conduct. “We have all come through struggles and protests in our political lives. But none of us has ever adopted a method that involves physically attacking a Minister,” he noted.
The Speaker added that black-flag protests and demonstrations are part of political tradition, but physically confronting and assaulting an elected representative on the street cannot be justified under any circumstances. “Showing black flags is one thing. But manhandling a Minister in public is entirely different and cannot be defended,” he said.
Calling for restraint, Mr. Shamseer urged the United Democratic Front (UDF) leadership to intervene and rein in those responsible for the protest. “The UDF leadership must ensure that such methods are not repeated. Political disagreements should not escalate into violence,” he stated.
The incident has sparked sharp political reactions across the State, with leaders condemning the attack and demanding accountability. Further details regarding the Minister’s medical condition are awaited.
The episode has once again raised concerns over the increasing intensity of political confrontations in Kerala, with calls for all parties to uphold democratic values and maintain decorum in public protests.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman
