The LDF has withdrawn its current protest programmes on the solar panel scam, including the much-trumpeted Cliff House siege, citing “preparations for ensuing Lok Sabha polls”.
“We have decided to withdraw the siege and to end showing black flags at Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. The ban on LDF members sharing dais with Chandy was also lifted,” LDF convener Vaikom Viswan told reporters after the Front’s state committee meeting here on Sunday.
Viswan said the protest will continue in the Legislative Assembly. However, Assembly functioning, including Budget presentation, will not be disrupted. The decision to abandon the current protest measures was taken so that the LDF constituents could prepare for the Lok Sabha polls. It will be continued in the Assembly for ‘raising public protest’, he said.
Though LDF constituents the CPI and RSP had urged for a rethink on the protest measures in the previous LDF meeting, the subject was put off to the next meeting as demanded by the CPM.
Viswan said the decision was not the result of the controversies surrounding the Cliff House siege. The blocking of pedestrian movement on the Cliff House road during the strike and a lone woman’s protest had raised a controversy recently.
“People know who backed her (Sandhya - the lone woman protester). She might have earned the benefits of the ‘drama’. We don’t think the protest was unwanted,” he said.
Meanwhile, the LDF meeting decided to offer all support to the agitation against the Aranmula airport project. “Chief Minister Oommen Chandy tells blatant lies to hide his government’s role. The LDF will join the people in their protest,” he said.
The meeting also decided to launch protest programmes demanding wheat supply to APL and BPL categories through public distribution system outlets. It also decided to support the agitation for title-deeds.