The Opposition staged widespread protests across the State on Saturday seeking the resignation of Minister for Health Veena George in the wake of the death of a woman in a building collapse at the Government Medical College Hospital, Kottayam, recently.

In the State capital, a sizeable number of Youth Congress activists took out a march to the official residence of the Minister, but were met with police resistance. The irate activists attempted to push through and scale the barricades erected by the police to keep them at bay. Holding flags, they shouted slogans demanding that the Minister quit. The police used water cannons repeatedly in a bid to disperse the protesters, to no avail.

Protests were also held by the Kerala Students’ Union, Mahila Congress, the Muslim Youth League, and the Bharatiya Janata Party at other places. Marches were held to offices of District Medical Officers (DMOs) in various districts.

In Kannur, a Youth Congress protest march to the office of the DMO turned violent, leading to clashes with the police and traffic disruption. The protest saw the police using water cannons after activists attempted to forcibly open the gate of the DMO office. The situation escalated when a few protesters scaled the gate and attempted to plant banana plants on top in a symbolic protest.

Protests were held in Wayanad, Kasaragod, and Pathanamthitta. In Angamaly, Youth Congress activists waved black flag at Minister for Cooperation V.N. Vasavan.

At Chalakudy, Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan accused the Left Democratic Front (LDF) of gross negligence in the health sector. Instead of coordinating rescue efforts, the Health Minister and the Cooperation Minister merely arrived at the scene to deliver speeches, further delaying critical response time, he alleged.

Protests were held in Palakkad too. A large number of Congress activists tried to scale barricades and enter the DMO office. Activists, including women activists, and the police engaged in a scuffle. Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan should have at least sought the Health Minister’s resignation in view of her alleged inefficiency before going abroad for medical treatment. The Minister was fully responsible for the health sector ending up in a shambles, he said.