Thiruvananthapuram | After being discharged from the hospital, S Valarmathi, leader of the protesting LPST rank holders, resumed her indefinite hunger strike in front of the Secretariat here on Thursday, while Keralam Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala defended the police action that led to the removal of their protest tent.

Valarmathi is leading an indefinite hunger strike demanding that the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) make appointments to government schools from the Lower Primary School Teacher (LPST) rank list before the list expires.

She was shifted to the hospital, and the police removed the tent of protesters on Wednesday night.

The police action followed notices issued by the Cantonment police asking the protesters to remove the temporary structure, citing a High Court order.

The rank holders are demanding appointment orders for all eligible candidates on the LPST rank list before it expires, transfer of appointments to aided-school teaching posts to the PSC, an end to alleged cash-for-job practices in recruitment, and a teacher-student ratio of 1:25.

Valarmathi returned to the protest site around 11 am, soon after being discharged from the hospital.

Speaking to reporters after resuming the agitation, Valarmathi said the government could not suppress the protest by force and alleged it was unwilling to fulfil even demands that did not entail any financial burden.

"Even if they try to suppress us, it will not make any difference. The government is unable to fulfil even the demand we have raised, which does not involve any financial burden. This protest is against the government's practice of making promises and deceiving us," she said.

She said the government should take an immediate decision on the concerns raised by the rank holders, adding that the agitation would continue despite her deteriorating health.

"The government is the one that should be concerned about our health condition. An urgent decision should be taken on our demands. We will certainly continue the protest. We are not changing our stand because of our health condition," she said.

Valarmathi alleged that she was taken away from the protest site around 9.30 pm on Wednesday despite being conscious and that she was kept in hospital without treatment until 7.30 am on Thursday.

She said her blood pressure and sugar levels were checked after she reached the hospital and were found to be normal, but she was subsequently shifted to the intensive care unit.

"I was neither unable to speak nor lying unconscious. I was speaking with full awareness. There was a deliberate attempt to keep me there, but that will not succeed. We will continue the agitation," she said.

Meanwhile, Chennithala defended the police action, saying the temporary shelter was removed following court directions and to avoid contempt of court proceedings against police officials.

Speaking to reporters, he said several contempt of court cases had been filed against police personnel in connection with similar matters.

"It was because of the numerous contempt of court cases in Keralam that the police removed the structure. When I came to know about it, I immediately told them there was no need for such action and that those who wanted to protest should be allowed to do so," he said.

He said Valarmathi was shifted to hospital on the advice of doctors as she had been on an indefinite hunger strike for several days.

Chennithala also said the government had accepted four of the five demands raised by the rank holders, while the remaining demand could not be accepted as it was not practical.

"Of the five demands, the government accepted four. There was no way to accept the fifth demand, as it was impractical. Can anyone end a protest only after all the demands are accepted? The protesters have to come forward to end the agitation and cooperate with the government," he said.

Education Minister N Samsudheen said the government has no objection to protests carried out democratically, and Valarmathi was shifted to the hospital considering her health condition.

He said the Education Department had held discussions with the protesters and had made efforts to resolve their concerns.

He added that the UDF government was reporting all emerging vacancies to the PSC to ensure that more young people were recruited into government service.

CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam visited the protesting rank holders and other LPST leaders, who began a hunger strike after Valarmathi's removal.

He alleged that the state government was afraid of people asserting their rights and accused it of allowing the police to act without restraint.

"A government that is afraid of the people, that hates the people and whose leaders fear people's rights is behind this irresponsible action. This is Keralam. When people come forward demanding their rights, the government should engage with them, hold discussions and find a solution. If it thinks it can allow the police to do whatever they want, that will not work," he said.

Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) and All India Youth Federation (AIYF) held separate protest marches against police action.

Yuva Morcha leaders also extended support to the protesters and announced that they would conduct a hunger strike alongside the LPST rank holders.

BJP MLA V Muraleedharan and other party leaders also visited the protest site and demanded immediate steps to address the concerns of the rank holders