CPI(M) leader criticizes police action against protesting teachers in Kerala

Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader P. Rajeeve has called the police action against protesters in Thiruvananthapuram anti-democratic. Police removed Valarmathi S., who is the secretary of the action council and convener of the lower primary school teacher rank holders' protest committee, to a hospital while she was on a hunger strike on Wednesday night. Mr. Rajeeve spoke to the media in Kochi on Thursday and questioned the government on several issues. He asked the government to state which court order it relied on for these actions within six months of the United Democratic Front assuming power. He also stated that the government must explain why it went back on an earlier promise to extend the time frame for Public Service Commission rank lists. According to him, peaceful agitations are being suppressed and social media accounts are being shut down. He further accused the government of taking credit for projects funded by the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board while finding fault with the board itself. He noted that the government is now preparing to start construction work on a digital park funded by the same board, even though the foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi when the Left Democratic Front was in power.

Context

Public Service Commission rank lists in Kerala determine job eligibility for candidates seeking government employment, making extensions to their validity periods a frequent point of political discussion. Such protests by job rank holders often draw significant political attention and debate over how state authorities handle demonstrations.