Say No to Hartal' to sue BJP leaders

Kochi: Say No to Hartal, the group campaigning against hartals will approach the High Court seeking action against BJP leaders who called for a hartal on Thursday during which a series of violent incidents took place in several parts of the state. The movement will also provide free legal assistance to victims of hartal violence. Those who want to register a case will be given legal support, said Raju Nair, general secretary of the movement.  

“Based on the Justice JB Koshy judgment in 2004 in the George Kurian VS State of Kerala case, we will appeal in the HC to ask the police to register a case against BJP state chief Kummanam Rajasekharan and others for the hartal-related violence. We will also urge the court to ask the BJP to remit a corpus fund as compensation for the violence and difficulties caused to the public. The police should also make it clear how many cases have been registered against party workers or others for attacking motorists, shops and vehicles,” he said.

The movement would go ahead with legal action again the hartal related violence and would ensure that police took action against the culprits.

“All campaigns and the general awareness created among the public on the human rights violation and violation of democratic rights of people caused by hartals were in vain. The hooligans blocked roads including national highways and brutally attacked motorists who questioned them. It is unfortunate that even medical shops and ambulances were not spared by the attackers,” he said.

The volunteers of the movement urged the public to send pictures of violence and attacks against the public so that they could lodge specific complaints with the police.