KL This Week: DYFI, CITU Protest Against LPG Price Hike, SFI Cadres Booked for Protesting Against Asianet

The ruling and opposition parties in Kerala brushed aside the claims by Prime Minister Narendra Modi of capturing power in the state, terming it “daydreaming”. The PM made the comments while responding to the victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Tripura Assembly elections. 

The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) held protests across the state against the hike in LPG domestic and commercial cylinders.

The Kerala Infrastructure and Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) has approved 64 new projects worth Rs 5,681 crores and land acquisition for 36 road projects. The board will also mobilise Rs 9,000 crores as loans to implement more infrastructure projects.

The tussle within the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) continues as the high command is unable to reorganise the committees. The conflict among the state leadership echoed in the Raipur Plenary session too. 

A firework unit accident in Kochi killed one worker and injured seven others including three children. The presence of a firecracker unit in the densely populated area of Kochi has raised concerns and the local residents have demanded an enquiry into the incident. 

In the byelection to the local bodies, the left democratic front (LDF) won 15 seats out of the 28. Newsclick brings you a round-up of the happenings in Kerala this week.

MODI DAYDREAMING ABOUT KERALA: LDF, UDF

After the election results for the three Northeastern states were declared, the PM claimed that the BJP will form the government in Kerala soon. He went on to add that the propaganda of minorities fearing the BJP has been dismissed by the victories in Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Goa. 

The ruling LDF and the opposition united democratic front (UDF) downplayed the claims of the PM, terming his claims to be farfetched and overambitious. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, in a scathing attack, said, “PM Modi's claim that BJP will win in Kerala is nothing but a pipe dream. BJP's political manoeuvre in Kerala will remain a Quixotic Quest as we reject all kinds of divisive or communal politics. Our secular ideals will take root and spread throughout the nation soon.” 

The leader of opposition, V D Satheesan, said, “There is no space for BJP in Kerala. The people in the state won't allow any communal forces to get root.” 

The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a constituent party in the UDF, said that the BJP and its leaders are not aware of the ground reality in Kerala. 

The BJP, which had one MLA in the previous Assembly, returned with no seats as the LDF captured the seat in the 2021 Assembly elections. 

PROTEST AGAINST LPG PRICE HIKE

The DYFI and CITU held protests across the state against the hike in LPG cylinder prices. The DYFI held a rail blockade protest in Ernakulam, while effigies were burnt demanding the rollback of the hiked prices. 

DYFI State secretary V K Sanoj leads the rail blockade protest in Ernakulam.

The CITU-affiliated All India Coordination Committee of Working Women held protest rallies in Ernakulam and other districts. The CITU condemned the hike, calling it a burden imposed on the working class even as the prices of essentials are skyrocketing. 

64 PROJECTS SANCTIONED BY KIIFB

The KIIFB has granted approval for 64 new projects in the state with an allocation of Rs 5,861.93 crores. The 45th board meeting approved the projects which included allocations for land acquisitions for road projects. 

The departments that received allocations for the projects include the public works department with 36 projects at Rs 3114.16 crores, the health department with 6 projects at Rs 605.49 crores and the higher education with nine projects at Rs 600.48 crores. 

The department of local self-governance (LSG), water resources and animal welfare were also allocated funds for implementing important proposals. 

Finance Minister K N Balagopal once again demanded that the Centre remove the loans obtained by KIIFB from the public debt accounts. The LDF government has been demanding an increase in the borrowing limit for the state. 

SFI PROTESTS AGAINST ASIANET

The members of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) marched towards the office of Asianet News, the Malayalam news channel following allegations of a fake interview regarding the usage of drugs and sexual abuse. 

The police have booked the SFI members for entering the channel’s office and protesting. 

A report carried by the channel in August 2022 created controversy when a minor girl confessed to using drugs and being sexually abused. Again, a detailed report titled ‘narcotics is a dirty business’ was aired in November 2022 using the same audio used earlier. 

The CPI(M) has questioned the ethical and moral values of the channel and alleged that a daughter of an employee was used to portray the victim. 

KPCC TUSSLE CONTINUES

The discontent among the leaders of KPCC continues despite the frequent intervention of the state president and the high command in-charges. Several leaders including MPs have spoken out in the open against the leadership’s policies in the state. Most recently, M K Raghavan has spoken out against the ‘use and throw’ policy of the KPCC.

The two official groups in the party, ‘A’ and ‘I’, have presented a long list of 60 members to be nominated to the KPCC – rejected by the high command. The two groups opposed the list proposed by the state leadership but were later permitted to attend the plenary session held in Raipur. 

The discontent reportedly echoed in the plenary session, with talks being held by the high command representative with warring leaders to reach a consensus. The reorganisation plans of the party are still pending due to the discord among the groups and several leaders. 

ONE KILLED IN FIRECRACKER UNIT ACCIDENT

One person was killed and 7 others were injured in a major accident in a firecracker manufacturing unit in Varapuzha panchayat in Ernakulam district on February 28. The owner of the unit Jenson and Jaison and his brother were arrested and are booked for culpable homicide. 

The unit which stored the firecrackers was reduced to rubbles within a few minutes due to the explosion, while a few houses in the neighbourhood were also damaged. Further investigations are on regarding the permission granted to set up a unit in a residential area.