Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] Kasaragod district secretary M. Rajagopalan has alleged that the police are adopting “double standards” in dealing with protests against Minister O.J. Janeesh, arresting and remanding DYFI activists while allegedly taking no comparable action against BJP workers involved in similar protests.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday (October 5), Mr. Rajagopalan said protests had taken place in Kasaragod following allegations that the Minister had led Youth Congress workers in an attack on Students’ Federation of India activists in Thiruvananthapuram. He alleged that cases had been registered against DYFI activists, including under non-bailable sections, and that several had been remanded.

Mr. Rajagopalan said eight DYFI activists were remanded in connection with a protest at Nadakkavu in Trikaripur and six others in Nileshwar, while cases had also been registered in Bedakam. He alleged that BJP workers had protested in front of the Minister’s vehicle at Puthiyakotta in Kanhangad, obstructed officials’ duties and confronted the police, but that no arrests or cases followed.

He rejected the allegation that the protests were intended to divert attention from protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Mr. Rajagopalan alleged that a group of Muslim League workers carrying deadly weapons had arrived at Nadakkavu to attack DYFI activists and that no action was taken despite the incident allegedly occurring in the presence of police.

He alleged that police had searched the home of Dr. Siddharath Ravindran of Kanhangad and that the doctor was removed from his temporary hospital position after participating in the protest.