Kanam Rajendran, CPI State Secretary of Kerala, was criticized by fellow party workers during the Ernakulam District Executive Committee meeting on Friday. The senior leader drew flak for his silence over many party leaders — including Muvattupuzha MLA Eldho Abraham — facing lathi charge for a protest in Kochi on Tuesday. Party leaders also accused him of making derogatory comments about those who attended the protest.
On Tuesday, CPI workers took out a protest march to the office of the Kochi range IG to protest the behavior of the Njarakkal CI, who allegedly acted in a biased manner during a clash between members of the SFI (student wing of the CPI(M)) and the AISF in Vypeen last week.
The protest turned violent when the police lathi-charged and used water cannons when the protestors attempted to break into the IG office. Several workers, including MLA Eldho and three police officers, were injured in the clash.