Woman Congress MLA clashes with Congress MLA in Kerala: Activists clash, push her; Ramya Haridas hospitalized, FIR against 7 people

A scuffle broke out between Congress MLA Ramya Haridas and local party workers at Chirayinkeezhu in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala on Friday night. A video of the scuffle has also surfaced. In it, some people are seen fighting with Ramya. People twisted the MLA's hand backwards. In the video, the MLA asks to release his hand and asks the person present in front of him who he is. After the incident, the MLA was treated at Chirayinkeezhu Taluk Hospital. The police have registered a case against 7 Congress workers, including district panchayat member Sajith Muthambalam and party leader Sajad, under sections of the Indian Nyaya Sanhita and SC-ST Act on their complaint. Controversy erupts over WhatsApp post According to the police, the controversy started over the MLA's staff member Palayam Pradeep's attendance at the Block Panchayat Samiti meeting. Haridas says that Pradeep works as his personal assistant. Meanwhile, Sajad claims that the MLA's PA is someone else, whose name is Vimal. Haridas said that a bank election was recently held in the area. The Congress members were contesting from three different panels. He refused to attend the conference of any panel, so as not to send a message of support to any one group. After this, Sajad made comments against him on WhatsApp and social media. According to Haridas, when he asked Sajad about these posts, he said that it was posted at the behest of Sajith and Vishwanathan. Later, Sajd called him to his house and asked him to talk about the issue. The MLA accused him of threats and assault. According to Haridas, he reached Sajjad's house along with some people. In the meantime, Sajit, Adheesh, Binoy and many others also came there. The MLA alleges that Sajith behaved aggressively with them and threatened them. He claimed that Sajith said that he could not go back the way he had come there. Haridas termed it as a conspiracy to harm himself and his colleagues. He sustained injuries in the incident, after which he underwent treatment at the hospital. The police have registered a case against 7 Congress workers on the basis of their complaint. Sajad's allegation - MLA and his associates reached home Sajad denied the MLA's allegations and presented a different side of the incident. He said that he had questioned Pradeep's participation in the block panchayat committee meeting in the party's WhatsApp group. He alleged that after becoming an MLA, Pradeep was interfering more than necessary in the area. According to Sajd, he posted this at around 4 pm on Friday. After this, at night, Ramya Haridas, Pradeep and some others reached his chicken shop. He alleged that these people demanded to meet his wife and daughter and later forcibly took him home from the shop. Sajad said that some local Congress leaders, including Sajit, joined him on the way. After reaching home, Pradeep took out his mobile and asked his daughter to read the WhatsApp post. The controversy escalated when Sajad protested. He claims that during this time, Sajith had a question-and-answer session with the MLA and the matter escalated to a fight. Video of the incident surfaced Sajad claims that the scuffle seen in the video took place when Haridas approached the person who was recording the incident. He also denied the MLA's claim that he was called to his house for a conversation over tea. According to him, the MLA and his colleagues reached his house after a dispute over the WhatsApp post. Sajad has filed a complaint with the police seeking security. His wife has also lodged a complaint. He alleged that the police have not yet recorded the statements of the duo. The police have said that a separate case will be registered on the basis of Sajad's complaint. Congress to conduct a preliminary inquiry into the matter After the incident, the Thiruvananthapuram district leadership of the Congress and the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee have taken cognizance of the matter. The party has decided to conduct a preliminary inquiry into the controversy. During the probe, the side of both MLA Ramya Haridas and the concerned Congress workers will be heard.