Congress suspends Kerala leader after arrest for allegedly blocking CM Satheesan’s convoy

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Congress on Saturday suspended district committee member Chenthi Anil from the party’s primary membership after he was arrested for allegedly obstructing the convoy of Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan in Thiruvananthapuram.

Anil, a patron of the Chenthi Sree Narayana Cultural Centre Charitable Society, was arrested over an incident on Friday evening as Satheesan was travelling to Chempazhanthy to attend Sree Narayana Guru Jayanti celebrations.

According to the police complaint, Anil allegedly blocked the Chief Minister’s vehicle at Chenthi, questioned him over his decision not to attend a programme organised by the society, threatened him and obstructed police personnel on duty.

The Chief Minister’s Office said organisers had been informed in advance that Satheesan would be unable to attend the Chenthi event because of his scheduled appearance at the Chempazhanthy celebrations. Organisers disputed that account, saying they were informed only at the last minute, and cancelled their programme in protest.

Health Minister K. Muraleedharan said Satheesan had decided against attending the Chenthi programme following an intelligence report. Muraleedharan, who was also invited to the event, criticised the obstruction and said police would act if the Chief Minister’s movement was impeded.

Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph said neither the government nor the Congress would shield anyone accused of breaking the law. Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said the law would take its course in connection with Anil’s arrest.

Anil, speaking while being taken for a medical examination following his detention, alleged that the case against him was the result of factional politics within the Congress.

“This is what Congress workers have to face,” he said, questioning the treatment of party workers after the Congress returned to power.

Anil also rejected the Chief Minister’s Office’s assertion that organisers had been informed beforehand that Satheesan would not attend the programme, saying the Special Branch had inspected the venue a day earlier.