Thiruvananthapuram | Two Congress workers were suspended by the KPCC on Sunday over the clash involving MLA Ramya Haridas and party members in Chirayinkeezhu here.
The action followed a preliminary report submitted by senior Congress leader M M Hassan, who was appointed by the party leadership to inquire into the incident, to KPCC president Sunny Joseph on Sunday.
KPCC organisational affairs general secretary Neyyattinkara Sanal said in a statement that Congress leaders Palayam Pradeep and S Sajad were suspended from the party's primary membership for serious organisational indiscipline that brought disrepute to the party in public.
Pradeep was a member of Haridas' personal staff, while Sajad is a Congress leader at whose house Haridas alleged that she was attacked by party workers.
The incident, in which Haridas allegedly sustained injuries, has led to differing versions of what happened.
Haridas alleged that she was attacked and threatened by local Congress leaders, while district panchayat member Sajith Muttambalam and Sajad said the MLA and Palayam Pradeep confronted them over a WhatsApp post, leading to a scuffle.
Haridas, a Dalit woman face of the Congress in Keralam, sought treatment at the Chirayinkeezhu taluk hospital after the incident on Friday night.
Hassan began the inquiry on Sunday and recorded the versions of Sajith Muttambalam and Sajad, who have been accused of attacking Haridas.
Haridas was in New Delhi and could not appear before the panel.
Hassan said he had spoken to her over the phone and would speak to her in person after she returned.
"Ramya Haridas has gone to Delhi. I have spoken to her on phone. I will speak to her when she returns," Hassan told reporters.
Asked whether he would submit the report to the KPCC leadership on Sunday, Hassan said he would discuss the timeline with Joseph as he needed to hear Haridas as well.
Sajith said after appearing before the inquiry panel that he had presented his version of the incident in detail and expressed confidence in the party's decision.
"The party heard me fully. I have full faith in the party. I believe the party will take the right decision," he said.
Meanwhile, senior Congress leaders expressed displeasure over the clash between Haridas and party workers in Chirayinkeezhu, saying the incident has brought disrepute to the organisation.
KPCC president said the matter was being viewed with utmost seriousness and that Hassan had been entrusted with the inquiry.
"As we view the matter with utmost seriousness, former KPCC President M M Hassan has been entrusted with the inquiry. The Congress and KPCC are treating this with high seriousness," Joseph said.
Asked whether such an incident caused disrepute to the party, Joseph said, "Yes, when such incidents occur, it causes disrepute to the party."
Joseph said he would not comment on the allegations before the inquiry report was received.
"I have nothing to say in advance now. For that purpose, I have entrusted the senior leader M M Hassan. He will inquire and give a report. I will respond based on that report," he said.
Asked about recurring public disputes involving Congress leaders and workers, Joseph said differences should be handled within the organisation.
"There may be many local issues, and there may be those who are unable to resolve them. When statements are made in the political arena, they should be handled with restraint," he said.
Joseph said the Congress is a strong democratic party where members can criticise each other, but such disagreements should not be aired publicly.
"Anyone can criticise anyone. But that should not be public criticism. It can be in party committees, platforms, or directly. Our view is that saying such things to the media is not right," he said.
Health Minister K Muraleedharan also said the incident had brought the party into disrepute and urged all members to ensure such incidents were not repeated.
"That has caused a bit of disrepute to the party. Why deny it? Everyone should ensure that it is not repeated in the future," Muraleedharan said.
