Kannur district in Keralam is set to witness two contrasting public programmes on Friday (September 4, 2026), Janmashtami, bringing children to the centre of two very different narratives – a grand Sri Krishna Janmashtami celebration featuring children dressed as Krishna and a Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) protest demanding justice for the child survivor in the Palathayi sexual assault case.

The coincidence of the two events has added a political dimension to Janmastami observances in Kannur where the Palathayi case remains a contentious issue. While children in Lord Krishna costumes will take part in the Janmashtami Shobhayatra organised by Balagokulam, backed by the RSS and the BJP, DYFI will take out a ‘March for Justice’ demanding action in the case and alleging a UDF-BJP understanding helping the accused, K Padmarajan, a former BJP leader, secure bail in the POCSO case.

Kannur town’s Janmashtami Shobhayatra will begin from Vilakkumthara ground and proceed through the town before concluding at the Kanchi Kamakshi Amman temple. Similar celebrations are being held at more than 500 locations across Kannur district.

At the same time, DYFI will organise its ‘March for Justice’ in Palathayi, demanding justice for the minor girl in the sexual assault case. DYFI State Secretary M Vijin will inaugurate the March and CPI(M) Kannur district secretary K K Ragesh will inaugurate the concluding public meeting.

To a question whether holding the protest on Janmashtami, when hundreds of children are expected to take part in celebrations, intended to give the March for Justice a symbolic dimension, Mr. Vijin told The Hindu that the date was “not deliberately chosen” to coincide with Janmashtami.

“We had planned this protest earlier, by the Kannur district committee. We did not choose the day looking at Janmashtami,” Mr. Vijin said.

He added that the protest was being organised to generate public attention and put pressure on the government to intervene in the case.

Renewed political significance

The Palathayi case has regained political significance following the High Court’s decision to suspend the life sentence of the accused and grant him bail

DYFI has demanded that the government challenge the order and take steps to ensure that the accused is sent back to jail.

The organisation has alleged that the prosecution’s handling of the bail proceeding raised questions about an alleged understanding between the UDF government and the BJP. DYFI has also questioned why senior prosecution officials familiar with the case did not appear before the court and why a government pleader represented the prosecution.

The organisation has accused the UDF government of adopting an anti-woman position and has framed the protest as a campaign for justice for the survivor.

The State General Education department had earlier dismissed Padmarajan, who was a school teacher, following his sentencing.