KL-CITIZENSHIP-PROTEST-CONG

Cong Kerala unit rules out joint protests with ruling LDF
Thiruvananthapuram, Dec23 (PTI) Differences in the
Congress-led UDF over taking part in the recent joint
demonstration called by the ruling Left government in the
state against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act came out in the
open with some leaders ruling out such protests in future.
Some senior congress leaders indirectly targeted
opposition leader in the state assembly Ramesh Chennithala for
taking part in the protest called by the LDF last week.
The ruling Left has invited the UDF to join hands on
January 26 to organise a human chain from the north to south
of the state in protest against the newly amended law.
Cutting across political differences, Chief Minister
Pinarayi Vijayan, Ramesh Chennithala, cabinet ministers, and
other UDF leaders participated in a joint protest against the
CAA here, probably the first in which the ruling and
opposition fronts have joined hands in a demonstration.
    Both the fronts attacked the BJP-led NDA, RSS and the
Sangh Parivar alleging that the amendment was brought in as
part of their agenda to divide people and create a religious
state.
     "As of now, what I am saying is the stand of the
party. We have no plans for any joint protest," Kerala Pradesh
Congress Committee (KPCC) President Mullappally Ramachandran
told the media here.
     He said he was not questioning Chennithala for his
decision to take part in the joint protest against the Act.
     Senior Congress leader V M Sudheeran also said it was
not practical to join hands with the CPI-M leadership.
     "The Left has been implementing all the policies of
Narendra Modi and now how can it be practical to ask us to
join them in a protest," Sudheeran said in a meeting.
     Former KPCC president and MP K Muraleedharan also
came out in support of Ramachandran and alleged that Modi's
policies were being implemented through the state DGP, Loknath
Behera.
    "The harsh policing policies of the Modi government is
being implemented in the state through the state police chief.
Then they are asking us to join hands to protest against the
Centre.
    We need to think through it and take a decision,"
Muraleedharan said at a Congress function here.
     However, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a UDF
constituent, has backed Chennithala's stand to join hands with
the CPI(M) for the anti-CAA protest. PTI RRT BN
BN BN

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)