7 April 2022 09:36 am Views - 148
By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera
Refuting claims that he instigated violent protests, National People’s Power (NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said yesterday he never instigated violence against any individual but told the protesting youth not to give up their fight against the fraudsters.
He told Parliament that a group of youth blocked his way when he tried to leave Parliament and that he explained to them that those who defrauded public money were leaving the country now and requested them not to give up their fight against them until looted money was recovered.
“I never told them to attack minister Johnston Fernando as he said in Parliament yesterday. He can check the video,” he said.
Responding to claims that a man wearing a helmet got into his vehicle when he came out of Parliament, Dissanayake said he was a party comrade who came for his security.
“We are not moving around without protection. We will not become victims to anyone cheaply. We have our party comrades to provide security to us. We are ready to reveal who he was if there was an investigation regarding it,” he said.
MP Dissanayake said there was a conspiracy against the JVP just as in 1983. “We had no connection to Black July in 1983. But, our party was banned which led to a massacre. The government is trying a similar situation today,” he said.
He said a certain group of people led by the government was attempting to create violence amidst peaceful public protests so as to exert suppression.
“We urge the government to stop this violence,” he said.
MP Dissanayake said people have taken to the street as they have paid off their patience having being in queues for gas, fuel and food without any solution from the government.
“This crisis was caused due to the conceitedness of the President,” he said.