Kannur, 26 Feb (H.S.):Senior CPI(M) leader M.V. Jayarajan today alleged that KSU activists had attempted to kill Kerala Health Minister Veena George during a recent protest in Kannur, describing the incident as a “criminal conspiracy” rather than a democratic demonstration.
Speaking to reporters after visiting the Minister at Pariyaram Medical College Hospital, Jayarajan claimed that the attack was deliberate and targeted at her neck. “The blow landed on the right side of the Minister’s neck. She is experiencing severe pain while turning her head either to the left or right. The impact has affected her physically in a significant manner,” he said.
Jayarajan further alleged that the protestors had earlier symbolically declared the Minister “dead” by placing a wreath, which he described as a disturbing signal of intent. “If action had been taken against those criminals at that time, this attempt on her life would not have occurred,” he said. He rejected the Opposition’s claim that KSU workers had not come close to the Minister, asserting that visual evidence showed protestors waving black flags directly at her neck level.
“This was not a protest. It was an attempt to murder a woman Minister. One among the criminal group physically attacked her. It was only because they were restrained that they could not carry out their plan,” Jayarajan alleged.
He said democratic protests, including black-flag demonstrations against Ministers, were common in Kerala and had been faced by CPI(M)-affiliated organisations such as DYFI and SFI in the past. “In those instances, it was our workers who were beaten by the police. Not a single Minister was attacked,” he added.
Jayarajan also dismissed suggestions of a security lapse, stating that even former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had been assassinated despite tight security. He alleged that there was a larger criminal conspiracy behind the attack but urged party workers to maintain restraint and avoid retaliatory actions, including attacks on Congress offices.
The incident has intensified political tensions in the State, with the CPI(M) and Congress trading sharp accusations over the events at Kannur railway station.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman
