THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: LDF convenor EP Jayarajan has responded to the black flag protest against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in various parts of the state. He also criticized the participation of girls in the strike.

Jayarajan has criticized that the girls are dressed up as boys in shirts and pants and are going for strikes against the Chief Minister. Recently in Kochi and Kozhikode, women who protested waiving black flags at the Chief Minister were stopped by the male police. EP's response came in the context of allegations that they were assaulted by the officers.

The LDF convenor also hinted that there will be a backlash if the protest against the Chief Minister continues. EP warned that if the black flag protest continues, the situation will worsen and the opposition leader will not be able to come out. The opposition is not protesting despite the hike in cooking gas prices by the Centre, he said. He added that the Kerala government's Rs 2 cess will be distributed to 62 lakh people.