'Congress hired Shiv Sena': CM triggers pandemonium in Kerala Assembly
Synopsis
The UDF MLAs urged the Speaker to remove the statement from the records, which was turned down. The members of the treasury benches alleged that one of the opposition MLAs shouted at Chief Minister and threatened him. The Opposition alleged that the Chief Minister entered the well of the house.
Kerala Assembly witnessed uproarious scenes on Thursday morning as the legislators from both sides began fighting each other after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan suggested that the Congress hired the Shiv Sena activists who unleashed an attack on youth in Kochi on Wednesday.
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The Opposition stormed into the well of the House demanding the Chief Minister's statement be expunged from House records. They also wanted the CM to withdraw the statement. The ruling legislators also entered the well of the House and started shouting at the Opposition. The members of the treasury benches alleged that one of the opposition MLAs shouted at Chief Minister and threatened him.
The Opposition alleged that the Chief Minister also entered the well of the House. "It is unprecedented in the history of Kerala Assembly that the CM himself entering the well of the House and shouting at the Opposition," said Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala. But the CM denied the allegation.
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Speaker Sreeramakrishnan tried to assuage the tense atmosphere in the House by standing up from the chair but failed to pacify the irate members. He stopped the proceedings for an hour after the uproar.
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The ruckus took place when the House was considering the adjournment motion by Congress MLA Hibi Eden demanding a discussion on the moral policing by the Shiv Sena at Kochi on Wednesday.
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In response to Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala's allegation that the government was protecting the moral goons across the state. The police blinked as the Shiv Sena unleashed an outrageous attack on youths in Kochi, he said. The Police did not take action against moral policing in University College because the SFI workers stand accused in the case. The police is protecting the goondas. The government has failed to act, he said, leading a scathing attack targeting the Chief Minister who is also holding the Home portfolio.
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When the Opposition continued to blame the police for supporting moral goons, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stood up with a response. He admitted a lapse from the police in the Kochi incident. But he tried to put the blame on the Congress later inviting the anger of the Opposition. "It should be doubted that you (Congress) hired the Shiv Sena workers," he said.
This statement was met with strong resentment from the Opposition benches. The UDF MLAs urged the Speaker to remove the statement from the records, which was turned down. Following this, the angry UDF MLAs stormed into the well shouting slogans.
Even though the Opposition continued the protest and announced a boycott, the CM refused to budge and justified his statement.