Disregarding the threats by Chief Minister Ooomen Chandy and the UDF Government, valiant volunteers of LDF have started pouring into Thiruvanathapuram from every nook and corner of the state. They will be taking part in the indefinite siege of the Secretariat beginning from August 12. The picketing is to be inaugurated by CPI (M) General Secretary Prakash Karat. CPI General Secretary S Sudhakar Reddy will attend.
The city has already been transformed into a military barrack with the presence of 20 companies of the CRPF and thousands of personnel from the police forces of the state. The LDF has announced that it will picket at the four gates of the secretariat till Oommen Chandy tenders his resignation. The LDF has been demanding his resignation and a judicial enquiry into the solar panel scam.CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat deploring the deployment of police on such a large scale has said that the “UDF government in Kerala is resorting to extreme police measures to suppress the growing movement led by the LDF. The deployment of central paramilitary forces, the denial of the right of freedom to assemble and protest and the resort to threats and intimidation are all meant to prevent struggle at the secretariat.” Such repressive measures, he said, “will not end the struggle, rather it will only heighten the resolve of the people to fight against the government which shields corruption”.
In the meanwhile the government is continuing with its repressive measures and intimidating operators of buses by which LDF workers are reaching the capital as also owners of hotels and lodges where LDF workers have taken rooms on rent. It has gone to the extent of even shutting down public toilets in the city.
All roads leading to Thiruvananthapuram have been blocked by the police. All entry points to the secretariat have been cordoned off. School and colleges, which were given a two day holiday, have been converted into police camps. An attempt by the police to remove the makeshift pandal where food for the volunteers was to be cooked was foiled by the people.
CPI(M) State Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan, said that Chief Minister Oommen Chandy is behaving like an autocrat. Addressing the press he said that the LDF is not seeking to topple the government but merely demanding the resignation of the tainted Chief Minister.
Thiruvananthapuram, August 11, 2013