Thiruvananthapuram: Lakhs of people joined a 651 km long human chain from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram organized by DYFI to protest against the central government’s neglect towards Kerala. While DYFI All India President A A Rahim stood as the first link of the chain at Kasargod railway station, LDF convenor E P Jayarajan was the last link in front of Raj Bhavan. A human chain was formed at 5 pm on Saturday evening.
In Thiruvananthapuram, CPM state secretary MV Govindan, senior leaders S Ramachandran Pillai, MA Baby, EP Jayarajan and DYFI general secretary Himaghanraj Bhattacharya were present in front of the Raj Bhavan. Although Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and CPM ministers did not participate in the human chain, his wife Kamala and daughter Veena T took part in the protest. Inaugurating a public meeting, Govindan accused the Central government of challenging the people of Kerala by announcing economic sanctions against the state.
“Due to the adamant stance of the Central government, the state government could not distribute benefits to the people. Although the LDF government wanted to increase the social security pension every year, it could not do so. CM, Cabinet Ministers, MPs and MLAs will stage a protest in New Delhi. However, the opposition UDF is staying away from the protest in the name of party politics,” he said.
