The Hindu : Kerala News : Malappuram turns into a red sea of humanity

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 23, 2005

Kerala

Kerala

Malappuram turns into a red sea of humanity

By Our Staff Reporter

MALAPPURAM, FEB. 22. The twin towns of Malappuram witnessed gathering of people like never before as curtains fell on the four-day State conference of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) this evening.

Disproving all calculations and expectations of the organisers, tens of thousands of party supporters, bearing red flags and wearing red ribbons and caps, thronged the town from the morning. By 5 p.m., when the public meeting was to start, Kottakkunnu ground and all roads leading to it turned into a sea of humanity.

Biggest spectacle

The biggest spectacle of the day was a march by the red volunteers. The rally, which began from Kizhakkethala at 3 p.m., struggled to proceed to the meeting ground through the crammed roads. It took about four hours for the red marchers to reach the maidan.

About 15,000 CPI(M) volunteers, wearing khakhi pants and red shirt, marched up the hillocks of Kunnummal and Kottakkunnu. Several thousands of party enthusiasts took part in a mass rally that followed the march.

1.5-lakh witness rally

An estimated 1.5 lakh people from different parts of the State converged here this evening to witness the historic moment for the CPI(M) in Malappuram. It was the party's maiden State conference in Malappuram.

Curbs were imposed on vehicular traffic in the town. Vehicles from Kozhikode, Perinthalmanna, Mancheri, Kottakkal and Vengara were diverted.

Zestful slogans

Party workers from all parts of the district began to pour to the town in groups big and small from the morning. By the afternoon, the flow strengthened, turning into surges of people choking almost all roads. Braving the scorching sun and walking miles along, hordes of women and children wearing red velvet caps made it to the conference.

The enthusiasm of the crowds found expression in zestful slogans targeting the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), particularly its general secretary, P.K. Kunhalikutty.

The police had strengthened the security in and around the town. Malappuram witnessed deployment of an unprecedented number of policemen for the party conference. Over 1,500 policemen, including 12 Dy.SPs and 25 circle inspectors, were deployed to control the crowds. The police were helped by the red volunteers in managing the crowds. A large number of makeshift refreshment stalls were erected on the sides of the roads to cater to the people. They sold watermelon, buttermilk, lemon and cane juice. There were several stalls selling biriyani. "Watermelon is the drink of the working class," shouted Abdul Majeed, who erected a refreshment stall, offering bucketfuls of watermelon juice to the party workers. His table, with slabs of red watermelon displayed in an order, matched with the party's colour.

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