CPM workers pour black oil outside Suresh Gopi's office in Thrissur; BJP workers stage protest march towards CPM district committee office

THRISSUR: The CPM on Tuesday staged a protest against Union Minister Suresh Gopi over allegations of irregularities in the voter list for the Lok Sabha elections and the controversy surrounding the arrest of nuns. As part of a protest march to his office in Cherur demanding his resignation, CPM activists poured black oil on the board of the minister’s camp office. In response, BJP workers marched towards the CPM district committee office.

Police blocked the BJP's protest march and resorted to a lathi charge against the workers. During the CPM’s march to Suresh Gopi’s office, a CPM worker poured black oil on the board after jumping over the barricades. He also attempted to place a garland of shoes on the board, but the police stopped him and took him into custody. However, CPM leaders later pulled him out of the police jeep and took him away.

The CPM’s protest march carried placards reading, “Suresh Gopi did not win Thrissur, he stole it.” The march was inaugurated by CPM Thrissur district secretary Abdul Khader, who alleged that Suresh Gopi had not legitimately won Thrissur and had instead "stolen" it. He also accused the minister of turning into a “black mole” in democracy.

A minor clash broke out between the police and the BJP activists as the police attempted to block the protest march. BJP district president Justin Sebastian sustained an injury in the incident.

Condemning the CPM’s actions, BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar alleged that the incident outside the minister’s office was anti-democratic and that false propaganda was being spread against Suresh Gopi. The BJP has called for a statewide protest tomorrow over the incident.