Adani’s Private Army Backed By The Government Gives A Communal Stamp To The Vizhinjam Strike: Cultural Workers With A Statement: Cultural activists have declared solidarity with the protest against Vizhinjam Port. The statement signed by many cultural activists says that the reasonable demands of Vizhinjam fishermen should be accepted.
They are also demanding that the repressive measures be abandoned. This solidarity campaign is done through social media. Eminent people from various fields have already declared their solidarity with the strike.
The fishermen are protesting with the demands of halting the construction of the port and studying the impacts it has created on the marine ecology, the coast and the fishermen with the inclusion of the experts suggested by the fishermen. They have been conducting a peaceful satyagraha strike at the port gate for more than 135 days.
However, the private groups specially organized by Adani with the support of the state government are trying to destroy the peaceful life of the coastal area and attack the struggle under the leadership of the Latin Archdiocese by using communal symbols,’ the cultural workers allege.
In this situation, they requested that those who sow unrest on the coast, destroy security and peace and inflame communal tension should be strictly dealt with, the legitimate demands of the fishermen should be accepted and the government should intervene urgently to protect peace by withdrawing false cases.
The cultural activists have also requested the government to take the initiative to reach a fair solution by discussing the problem amicably without going on the path of confrontation.
The statement also said that the port concessions on November 26 provoked the protesters and encouraged police violence. It is stated in the statement that on November 27, the police abducted the Parish Administrative Committee worker who came to investigate the arrest of an innocent person by the police and assaulted the woman who went to the police station to inquire about her husband’s arrest.
‘The approach taken by the police was to insult the crowd of men and women who came to the station area after hearing the incident. The release of the arrested innocents was discussed for 4 hours but no decision was taken till night. Meanwhile, when stones were pelted from the darkness, the people got angry and damaged the vehicles parked at the station. Hundreds of people were injured in the lathicharge involving grenades and tear gas.
Thiruvananthapuram Archdiocese Bishop, Asst. About 3000 people including the Bishop Vicar General have been charged with 8 cases. Only a nominal case was registered against those who assaulted the protesters, the statement said.
Attempts are being made by the local RSS-BJP workers and some community organization leaders to incite communal sentiment against the Samara Samiti workers who have intervened opportunely to protect social harmony and friendship. This statement also says that the ruling CPI(M) is supporting this.
It also says that the CPI(M)’s the support of Adani’s Kautilya tactics in Thiruvananthapuram, which is playing a role in the struggle against communalism all over India, should be taken seriously.
The cultural activists also said that they condemn the insulting of people who have been working in the political, social, labor, and feminist fields for a long time in Kerala society as traitors and conspirators.
In this situation, they requested that those who sow unrest on the coast, destroy security and peace and inflame communal tension should be strictly dealt with, the legitimate demands of the fishermen should be accepted and the government should intervene urgently to protect peace by withdrawing false cases.
The cultural activists have also requested the government to take the initiative to reach a fair solution by discussing the problem amicably without going on the path of confrontation.
