Police attack on MPs blatant 'privilege violation': Shashi Tharoor

New Delhi: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has written Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla an attack on Kerala Congress leaders, including MPs and MLA, by the Kerala Police in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday, India Today reported.

Tharoor stated that the police engaging tear gas shells against rally organised by Kerala Congress, which caused suffocation and leaders being hospitalised, was a "grave violation" and a "blatant assault" of parliamentary previleges on elected representatives.

The clash between police and Kerala Congress leaders broke during the party's march to the Director General of Police (DGP) office.

The party held the protest march to dissent against the alleged actions of law enforcement agencies, including the Kerala Police, against those criticising the state government. The said actions are attempts to "curb democratic dissent", India Today quoted Tharoor's letter, dated December 23.

His letter read, "While the organisers of the rally had obtained the necessary permissions from various authorities to hold the protest, we were shocked when, without provocation or warning, tear gas shells were fired, landing just behind the stage while the Leader of the Opposition was addressing the rally."

"The subsequent fusillade of more tear gas shells was accompanied by water cannons, used by the police to break up the rally," he said. He added that he had raised the issue before the Kerala DGP and was promised a full enquiry.

According to Tharoor, the police attack on elected representatives was a completely unjustified and wanton attack, and the use of tear gas and water cannons seriously infringed the basic democratic liberties of the protesters.