Rahul Gandhi cautions against growing intolerance

A political controversy broke out over the killing of a tribal man in Kerala, after Congress president Rahul Gandhi tweeted on the matter, cautioning against a growing sense of intolerance. 

“I am deeply disturbed by the savage and cruel lynching of a tribal in Kerala on Friday, captured on camera. We must guard against growing intolerance in our society and speak out in one voice to condemn these acts of mindless violence,” Gandhi said. 

A tribal man Madhu was attacked by a mob of over 15 people after they allegedly found him stealing rice from a shop. The men took selfies before they beat him up brutally, and handed him over to the police. In the police car, the man vomited and lost his consciousness. 

It was later learnt that Madhu, a mentally-unstable man, was stealing because he was hungry. His death led to a series of protests, and CM Pinarayi has announced Rs 10 lakh to his family as compensation. 

The state BJP unit, too, took out a protest rally with a mock dead body across the streets of Thiruvananthapuram. The UDF, too, carried out a protest in the city.