The Congress seems to have received a much-needed reprieve after Ramakrishnan, the husband of Indira Ramakrishnan who was trampled to death by a tusker at Kanjiraveli in Idukki district in Kerala, confirmed that the party had taken his permission before staging a protest at Kothamangalam town with his wife’s body on March 4.
The CPI(M), led by Industries Minister P. Rajeeve, had lashed out at the Congress accusing the party of forcibly taking away the body from the Kothamangalam Taluk Hospital in the middle of inquest proceedings without taking the permission of the mourning family members. The Congress, however, had shot down the allegation, claiming that they had indeed taken the permission.
Speaking to the media on March 5 morning, Mr. Ramakrishnan confirmed the Congress’ position. “The body was not forcibly taken away for the protest but only after taking permission from me and my son after convincing us that this alone would ensure prompt intervention by the State government. The Ministers and the government intervened promptly and did the needful and we have no complaint (about the government intervention),” he told mediapersons ahead of the funeral.
