The controversy surrounding the quality of water used in water cannons by the Kerala Police during actions against AIYF and AISF activists has escalated into a political debate. Expelled Congress leader Rahul Mamkootathil criticized the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Opposition, questioning the credibility of the water used based on three accompanying photographs.
Mamkootathil, in a social media post, accused Rajan and Vijayan of dishonesty, pointing out that water on the road would naturally turn muddy and not into something else like soda or sherbet. The photographs, shared by a vernacular newspaper photographer, depicted a sequence of events related to the issue.
The images showed a youth collecting water from the roadside, followed by senior CPI legislator K. Rajan and former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan handling the same bottle. The controversy sparked a heated exchange in the Assembly after the Opposition raised concerns about the water used in the water cannon.
The issue gained momentum on social media as images of the collected water sample circulated widely. While allegations surfaced that the water sprayed on protesters was contaminated, the government defended that the water used was not harmful. Mamkootathil’s post aimed to politicize the visual evidence, targeting Vijayan and Rajan, who responded to the Opposition’s claims in the Assembly.
The dispute is evolving into a new battleground between the government and the opposition, with accusations flying over protest management and police actions. Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala assured in the Assembly that the water has been sent for examination, promising action if any irregularities are found. The response from Chennithala is now anticipated with the emergence of these pictures.
