The Kerala Youth Congress and Kerala Students Union organized a march towards Thekkinkadu Maidan, protesting against the purported cutting of branches of a banyan tree near the venue where Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a massive women's gathering in Thrissur a day earlier. Following the Congress march, BJP workers also arranged a counter-march, escalating the charged atmosphere on Thursday.
According to PTI, Congress sources said, the protest was in response to cutting branches of banyan tree near the venue.
The branch was cut off due to the security measures for Modi's programme in Thrissur on Wednesday, as per the report.
The BJP claimed that Youth Congress and KSU workers brought cow dung to sprinkle at the venue where Modi had spoken, leading to heightened tensions. The situation escalated to the extent that a substantial number of police personnel were deployed at the spot. The police had to use force to disperse the two groups and restore order in the area.
On the other hand, Youth Congress workers alleged that BJP activists had arrived armed with sticks, with the intent to attack them.
Meanwhile, Kerala Assembly LoP VD Satheesan, who is in New Delhi, attacked the BJP. Kerala Assembly LoP VD Satheesan said, "In Kerala CPI(M) led LDF and Congress-led UDF have been fighting for a long time. The next election also we will fight, there will be no relevance for the BJP or Sangh Parivar in the coming Parliament elections in Kerala."