New Delhi, July 21 (IANS). During the students’ demonstration in the national capital Delhi, Kerala Tourism and Culture Minister P.C. Vishnunath was taken into custody by Delhi Police on Tuesday evening. After this incident, the student movement took a new political turn, in which many senior Congress leaders also participated.
P.C. Vishnunath had come to Delhi to meet Union ministers regarding various projects related to Kerala. After completing the official programme, he joined the ongoing demonstration in support of the students.
When Delhi Police started action to remove the protesters, many Congress leaders including Vishnunath were taken into custody. Congress leaders say that Vishnunath told the police several times that he was a cabinet minister working in the Kerala government, but despite this he was taken into custody along with other protesters in a police bus.
Speaking to the media from inside the police bus, Vishnunath said that the agitation will continue and the central government will eventually have to succumb to the demands of the protesters.
He said, “This government will be forced to retreat in front of this movement. This is a fight for the future of the youth of the country and this movement will become stronger in the coming days.”
Senior Congress leader and seven-time Lok Sabha MP Kodikunnil Suresh was also detained during the protest. Congress MP Dean Kuriakose was also among the leaders against whom the police took action.
In this demonstration organized in support of students, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly V.D. Satheesan, several Kerala MPs and leaders of other opposition parties also participated.
This movement has got a new political dimension after the detention of a sitting minister of the Kerala government. Congress alleged that Delhi Police was trying to suppress peaceful democratic protests. The party made it clear that this is a movement related to the future of the youth of the country and the protests will continue until their demands are met.
–IANS
dsc
