New Delhi: The Kerala government booked 46 people on Tuesday (February 16), for taking part in protests against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in February 2019, despite the fact that the Pinarayi Vijayan government had assured earlier that no action would be initiated against the protestors.According to a report by The News Minute, the Kozhikode Town police issued summons to 46 political, cultural and religious leaders in Kerala, who expressed solidarity for the protests in 2019. Among those who received summons are prominent activists and leaders of the state, including K.K. Baburaj, T.T. Sreekumar, J. Devika, N.P. Chekutty, Nasar Faisy Koodathai and late T. Peter.The summons are based on a case registered at Kozhikode Town police station for a protest held on February 17, 2019, ordering protestors to appear before the Kozhikode First Class Judicial Magistrate Court. Among those who received summons are also those who did not physically present at the protests on the said day but expressed solidarity with protesting groups.Sections 109 (abetment), 143 (member of unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 283 (danger or obstruction in public way or line of navigation) and 149 (member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object) of the Indian Penal Code have been filed against the protestors.While the Kerala Police maintain that cases were filed because the protestors did not seek permission for their demonstrations a week prior, as mandated by the Kerala high court, protestors accuse “double standards” on the part of the government, the news portal said in another report. The protestors say although they did apply for permission in time, the authorities did not grant it, and question why it was not granted.Also read: Kerala Files Suit Against Centre in Supreme Court on Citizenship Amendment ActThe state police also allege that on February 17, 2019, during demonstrations, violence was also reported from several parts of the state, including acts of vandalism. As many as 40 organisations, including Welfare Party, Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), Dalit Human Rights Movement, BSP and Porattam, staged demonstrations under the banner of Joint Council against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.However, mainstream political parties, including Left parties, did not join protests on the day as they did not want to be seen together with SDPI and Welfare Party, because they are opposed to SDPI and Welfare Party’s brand of politics. Both parties have been demonised for long in Kerala.In the run-up to the February 17, 2019 protests, police chiefs of various districts had also issued warning against carrying out demonstrations without permission.Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan while speaking in the assembly in February 2019 had, in fact, said that no action would be initiated against those participating in the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). However, he warned against violence during demonstrations.“Many organisations have been conducting protests. No case has been filed against any of these protestors. But action will be taken against whoever indulges in violence. Any government will do that, there is no connection with anti-CAA protests and those cases,” Vijayan had said.The Vijayan government has always maintained that it is opposed to the implementation of controversial citizenship law in Kerala. Recently, on February 14, Vijayan reiterated the same.“The Home Minister [Amit Shah] has said that he will implement CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) after Covid vaccination campaigns are over. We have already made our stand clear. This government will not allow this disaster in Kerala,” NDTV quoted Vijayan as saying during an election rally in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, February 14.
