Kochi: CPM state secretary M V Govindan has alleged that the UDF government attempted to repeat the 2003 Muthanga incident by evicting poor families from Paryethukavu in Ernakulam. After visiting the affected families on Monday, Govindan stated that police carried out a brutal attack on the third day of the UDF government coming to power. He asserted that families in this area will not be allowed to be evicted.
Govindan Criticizes Chief Minister's Claims
Chief minister V D Satheesan claims that they are ‘the true Left’, Govindan said. “The Left does not attack the poor; it protects them. During the LDF government’s tenure, there were no such attacks here. Previously, the advocate commission and police came 14 times to evict, but such attacks never occurred. Evicting the poor is not the police’s job. The police are not a tool for aggression. The EMS government declared this in 1957. The anti-eviction ordinance of 1957 and the agricultural land reform amendment act of 1969 were introduced,” Govindan added.
Party Will Not Allow Eviction
Govindan said that the party will not allow eviction of the Dalit families from Paryethukavu if they are not willing to move out. The government should provide title deeds to the families here, he said. Govindan also inaugurated the protest meeting organized by Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham at Paryethukavu in support of the Dalit families.
Residents Refuse to Leave
Meanwhile, the residents of Paryethukavu said that they are not ready to move from the area where they have been living from the period of their forefathers. The Dalit families have been living in the area for more than a century, Govindan noted.
Local MLA's Statement
Local MLA V P Sajeendran said that the land at Paryethukavu is not government land but private property. Sajeendran called the police’s attack on women an ‘unfortunate incident’. He alleged that ‘anti-government’ media are spreading claims of police misconduct at Paryethukavu.
