A vegetable shop owner in Kerala’s Kollam district was allegedly attacked and threatened on Friday by Congress workers demanding 2,000 for the party’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra.’ S Fawaz told that he had given 500, but three party workers thought it was insufficient; Fawaz claimed they vandalised his shop and spoiled his stock.
“A group of Congress workers reached the shop and asked for donations for ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’. I gave ₹500 but they demanded ₹2,000. They damaged weighing machines and threw away vegetables. They also used abusive language and attacked the staff,” he said.
Congress leaders have been quick to respond, with K Suresh condemning the workers’ behaviour, calling it ‘inexcusable’. “Such behaviour is inexcusable. Party is crowdfunding small donations voluntarily unlike others who get corporate donations,” he tweeted.
The attack, according to Congress state president K Sudhakaran, was “unacceptable,” and the party workers involved had been suspended.
“Three party workers who were involved in an unacceptable incident in Kollam have been suspended indefinitely. They do not represent our ideology, and such conduct is unacceptable. Unlike others who receive corporate donations, the party is crowdsourcing small donations “He posted on Twitter.
Meanwhile, Fawaz has filed a complaint with the Kunnicode Police Station.
The Congress ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ entered its eighth day on Friday, with party leaders marching from Kollam, led by MP Rahul Gandhi. The 3,500-kilometer yatra began in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, and will end in Kashmir after passing through 12 states in 150 days.