Police use water cannons at Muslim Youth League march in Thrissur demanding Health Minister’s resignation 

Tension flared in Thrissur on Friday as Muslim Youth League (MYL)’s protest march to the District Medical Officer’s office demanding the resignation of Health Minister Veena George was met with police water cannons. The protest, organised against the backdrop of the death of a woman in the collapse of a building at Kottayam Medical College, was against the alleged apathy of the government in the health sector.

The march, led by the youth league’s district committee, began near the North Stand and was blocked by police barricades on St. Thomas College Road. When protesters attempted to breach the barricades, the police deployed water cannons to disperse the crowd.

MYL State vice-president Faisal Bafaqi Thangal inaugurated the protest, saying that the Health Minister should be held accountable for the woman’s death. “Ms. Veena George is the prime accused in the collapse. She has put Kerala’s health care on a ventilator,” he said, vowing that the youth league would remain on the streets until she resigns.The march was presided over by district president A.M. Sanaufal.

BJYM stages protest

In a symbolic protest against what they called the collapse of Kerala’s health care system, the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha staged a demonstration at the District Medical Officer’s (DMO) office in Thrissur, holding Health Minister Veena George responsible for the tragic death of the woman.

As a mark of protest, a wreath was placed on the DMO’s chair, symbolising the alleged ‘death’ of public health care in the State. The protest was inaugurated by BJYM district president Sabish Maruthayur.