Thiruvananthapuram, June 22: A political uproar erupted in the Kerala Assembly on Monday when opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan accused the police of using contaminated water during a protest march organized by the AYYF-AISF. He presented a bottle of water, claiming it was tainted, which was used in the water cannons.
The protest, opposing the government’s stance on the PM Shri scheme, saw CPI leader and MLA K. Rajan and other activists participating. When the demonstrators attempted to breach barricades near Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium, police deployed water cannons.
Some protesters reported skin irritation after the water cannon was used, raising concerns about whether the water was sourced from a contaminated supply.
Addressing the Assembly, Vijayan alleged that excessive contaminated water was used against the protesters, which could lead to serious health issues like amoebic meningoencephalitis. He stated, “This is not a standard practice for using water cannons. At a time when Kerala is discussing health concerns, this should be taken seriously.” He demanded a detailed response from Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala.
Chennithala responded by denying any deliberate use of contaminated water, explaining that the water in the cannons is supplied by the authorities. He noted that the color of the water might change due to dirt or rust accumulated in old tankers. The Home Minister assured that a water sample would be sent for laboratory testing, and the Commissioner has been asked to investigate the matter. He also mentioned that corrective measures would be taken if any deficiencies were found.
K. Rajan, the CPI leader who initiated the march, stated that the protesters were not intimidated by the water cannons but insisted that the water used against them was unacceptable. He claimed that the spray had even altered the color of some female protesters’ clothing.
The Speaker indicated that further investigation could take place once the lab test results are available.
This controversy has shifted political focus from the PM Shri protests to the allegations regarding the police’s methods of controlling demonstrations.
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