Protests sweep Kerala demanding Minister’s resignation over MCH incident

Thiruvananthapuram BJP workers and Congress activists staged protests across Kerala on Monday demanding Health Minister Veena George’s resignation over alleged “lapses” in the health sector.

The protesters clashed with the police at several locations, attempting to breach barricades and calling for Ms. George to step down following the death of a woman after a portion of a building at the Government Medical College Hospital (MCH) in Kottayam collapsed last week. The State has been witnessing intense protests since the July 2 incident, which triggered a major political row.

In Kannur, BJP workers marched to the District Hospital and Thalassery General Hospital, accusing the Left government of “deliberately undermining” the public health sector to benefit private hospitals. Inaugurating the protest, BJP leader K. Surendran said the party would intensify its agitation until Ms. George resigns.

BJP workers also staged protests in Alappuzha, clashing with the police and raising slogans against the government and the Minister.

In Kozhikode, the police used water cannons to disperse Youth Congress workers marching towards government offices demanding Ms. George’s resignation.

Outside the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, Mahila Congress activists clashed with police while attempting to jump barricades. Protesters, led by Rajya Sabha MP Jebi Mether, alleged that a woman protester was injured after being “manhandled” by the police.

The protests were sparked by the death of D. Bindu, a 52-year-old woman, after a toilet complex adjacent to wards 10, 11, and 14 collapsed last week. Bindu, who was accompanying her hospitalised daughter, was trapped in the debris. Three others were injured in the incident.