Yuva Morcha activists gherao Chomsky

By Our Staff Reporter

KOLLAM, NOV. 13. American writer and thinker, Prof. Noam Chomsky's arrival at the Kadappakada Sports Club and Reading Room here was marred by unpleasant scenes when a dozen Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) activists rushed towards him shouting slogans.

Prof. Chomsky and his wife, Mrs. Carol Chomsky, arrived here this morning to inaugurate the V. Gangadharan Study and Research Centre of the club.

The incident occurred while they were being led inside by the office-bearers of the club and others, including the Kollam MP, Mr. P. Rajendran, the Rajya Sabha member, Mr. N.K. Premachandran, and the CPI(M) leader, Mr. M.A. Baby, to unveil the plaque and declare the study centre inaugurated.

The BJYM volunteers had arrived early and took care not to arouse any one's suspicion.

The demonstrators, who rushed towards Prof. Chomsky waving BJP flags and shouting ``Chomsky go back'', carried placards which read ``Arrest ISI agent Chomsky''. They tried TO prevent him from moving forward.

The two policemen posted on duty there struggled to keep the demonstrators at bay. Meanwhile, volunteers from the club rushed to the scene and formed a protective cordon around Prof. Chomsky and his wife.

Mr. Rajendran pushed himself into the fray and joined the others in preventing the demonstrators from disrupting the plaque unveiling ceremony. The Kollam RDO, Dr. B. Ashok, who was also present at the scene meanwhile coaxed the demonstrators out of the club compound and by then police reinforcements arrived. The BJYM activists were arrested and removed from the scene.

Later, inaugurating the V. Gangadharan Study and Research Centre, Prof. Chomsky said that he sincerely hoped the centre would be a model to other such institutions around the world. He said that the enthusiasm shown by the promoters of the club gave him hope in this regard. The club secretary, Mr. R.S. Babu, welcomed the gathering and the club president, Mr. Thengamam Balakrishnan, presided.

MPs' protest

The Kollam MP, Mr. Rajendran, and the Rajya Sabha Member, Mr. N.K. Premachandran, registered their strong protest against the incident. Mr. Rajendran told presspersons that the intention was to disrupt the function. He said that ``only CIA spies can feel that Prof. Chomsky is an ISI agent''. He said that through the demonstration, the BJP and the BJYM have insulted the people of Kollam. He said that the BJP should make it clear whether the demonstration against Prof. Chomsky was endorsed by the party.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : All-party meeting on Nov. 22
Next     : Chithira Tirunal statue unveiled