Kerala BJP president Kummanam Rajasekharan on Thursday morning began a 24-hour fast at Thiruvananthapuram to protest against the alleged anti-people policies of the CPI(M)-led lDF Government in the State and demanding restoration of food grain distribution through ration shops, extension of rank lists for appointments through PSC and an end to the atrocities against Dalits. Beginning the fast at the gates of the State Secretariat, Kummanam said that long queues were not being seen at the banks these days anywhere in Kerala. Referring to the State-wide Human Chain formed the lDF formed on Thursday evening to protest against currency demonetisation, he said they should instead try to find out whether rice was available at the ration shops.
“Some people here are still arguing that the biggest problem in the State right now is the shortage of currency notes. If there was such a currency shortage, how did tens of thousands of people watch the Indian Super league (football matches) held in KochiIJ Those who have problems in queuing up for notes are standing in 650-KM queue for the Human Chain,” he said. National BJP spokesperson Bizay Sonkar Shastri started the fast that started at 10.00 am on Thursday. The fast would conclude at 10.00 am onFriday. Senior party leaders like former Union Minister O Rajagopal were present at the venue to which several organisations held marches in order to declare solidarity for the agitation. leaders of NDA constituents like Thushar Vellappally and PC Thomas were present at the venue of the fast which Kummanam undertook due to the BJP’s conviction that the lDF Government in Kerala was neglecting the hardships being faced by the ordinary people and trying to run away from its responsibilities by staging protests against the Centre over non-issues.