Protests Erupt in Kerala Over Health Minister's Resignation Demand

Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 4 (PTI) - Intense protests erupted in various parts of Kerala on Friday, led by opposition parties including the Congress and the BJP, demanding the resignation of Health Minister Veena George. This unrest follows the tragic death of a woman in a building collapse at Kottayam Medical College. Bindu, 52, lost her life in the incident that left three others injured: Aleena, 11, Amal Pradeep, 20, and Jinu Saji, 38. The incident occurred on July 3, prompting protests in several locations such as Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, and Pathanamthitta by BJP and its youth wing, Yuva Morcha. In Thiruvananthapuram, BJP workers, including a significant number of women, marched to Veena George's official residence, vociferously protesting against her and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Protesters brandished party flags, shouting slogans like 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'. Tensions escalated when protesters attempted to breach police barricades, leading to the use of water cannons by law enforcement. Congress's women's wing and the youth wing of the Indian Union Muslim League also conducted demonstrations in front of the Health Minister's office, demanding her resignation. Similar scenes of agitation were observed in Kollam where Yuva Morcha members stormed the District Hospital superintendent's office, and BJP workers continued their protests at George's office in Pathanamthitta. In a symbolic display of dissent in Pathanamthitta, Youth Congress members carried a coffin inscribed with "Kerala's Health Department" to George's family home, insisting on her resignation. Meanwhile, in Kottayam, Youth Congress activists gathered at the medical college, throwing sticks at the police and climbing over barricades, prompting a response with water cannons. All locations saw police erecting barricades to contain the protestors. Congress MLA from Palakkad, Rahul Mamkootathil, described Bindu's death as an "institutional murder," holding George responsible. He criticized the ongoing investigation by the District Collector, questioning the impartiality given the Collector's involvement in the college's development. This unfortunate incident occurred when the toilet complex adjacent to several wards at Kottayam Government Medical College collapsed. The hospital was in the process of relocating operations to a new surgical block. The Congress-led UDF opposition has criticized the rescue operation, alleging it only gained momentum following concerns raised by Bindu’s relatives. Bindu, who hailed from Thalayolaparambu in Kottayam district, was located in the debris more than two hours later and was declared deceased. She had been at the medical college awaiting surgery for her daughter.