BJP intensified protests across Keralam on Thursday after the attack on its State office. Activists marched to the Secretariat and waved black flags at Minister Roji M. John in Chengannur. The party said the attack on its office "under the cover of darkness" was a challenge to basic democracy.
A day after escalating political violence and late-night clashes between youth organisations affiliated with political parties in the capital district -- including the vandalism of BJP State committee office Mararji Bhavan and the alleged attack on party's national executive committee member P.K. Krishnadas -- the BJP and its youth wings intensified protests against the State government across Keralam on Thursday.
The protests were held in response to the State-wide agitation called by the BJP State unit following the attack on its headquarters.
In Thiruvananthapuram, BJP activists marched to the Secretariat in protest against the attack on Mararji Bhavan and engaged in scuffles with the police. The protest march, which began at Pulimootil, saw activists attempting to push through the barricades erected by the police in front of the Secretariat. The protesters also engaged in verbal altercations with the police when officers tried to prevent them from overturning the barricades.
Amid political tensions, Keralam Minister O.J. Janeesh's vehicle attacked by DYFI members in Kannur
BJP activists also waved black flags at Higher Education Minister Roji M. John in Chengannur. The protests erupted after unidentified persons hurled bottles and stones at the BJP headquarters on Wednesday night. Earlier in the evening, Mr. Krishnadas's vehicle was also allegedly attacked by unidentified individuals.
Condemning both incidents, the BJP said in a statement that the attack on its State office "under the cover of darkness" was a challenge to the basic tenets of democracy. Resorting to violence when one is unable to confront an opponent politically is not befitting of democratic politics, the party said.
Heightened political tensions
The latest developments follow heightened political tensions after a black-flag protest was staged against Union Home Minister Amit Shah by Youth Congress activists during his recent visit to Kollam.
Youth Congress-SFI violence: Keralam CM accuses CPI(M) of provoking clashes during protests against BJP
Mr. Krishnadas said a situation had arisen in Keralam in which "even the security of the Union Home Minister had been compromised."
Asserting that the BJP "did not believe in violence and engaged only in democratic protests", he said protests would be organised across Keralam on Thursday against the attacks on the BJP.
He also said Sports and Youth Affairs Minister O.J. Janeesh, who is the Youth Congress president, was "unfit to hold the position."
BJP State general secretary S. Suresh alleged that the Congress was attempting to destroy democracy by using goons and warned of a strong backlash.
BJP national secretary K. Surendran said the Sports Minister himself had openly admitted that the black-flag protest against Mr. Shah had been orchestrated. Despite this, he questioned why the State Home Department had not registered a case in connection with the incident.
Meanwhile, the Mararji Bhavan attackers have not yet been identified. The police said CCTV footage were being examined.