Ramesh Chennithala. File photoThiruvananthapuram: The Congress leadership in Kerala on Thursday tendered an unconditional apology to the people for causing trouble for the commuters of Kochi Metro trains in the name of a protest ride.
Ramesh Chennithala, leader of the opposition in Assembly, expressed regret over the incident in which a mass ride on the metro by Congress leaders and activists put the public in trouble.
“The party workers in Ernakulam merely expressed their protest after the UDF was ignored during the inauguration of the Kochi Metro. We never intended to create any kind of trouble or destruction to property. I apologize for the inconvenience caused,” Chennithala said.
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He said the chaos erupted as more party activists turned up for the ride than expected.
On Tuesday evening, a horde of Congress workers had swarmed the Kochi Metro station during a 'Janakeeya yatra' led by former chief minister Oommen chandy.
Hundreds of Congress workers virtually took over the premises of metro stations to accompany former chief minister Oommen Chandy in his ride on the metro. They had claimed that the 'Janakeeya yatra' was in protest against the lack of invitation to Chandy during the Kochi Metro inauguration.
In the process, commuters at the Aluva station where Chandy boarded the train and at the Palarivattom station where he alighted were put into great trouble.
The Kochi Metro Rail Limited has ordered an enquiry into the incident. The state's prestigious project gained momentum during the tenure of Chandy as the chief minister.
(With inputs from IANS)
