Kerala Budget 2017 leaked? Furore in Assembly, Opposition demands FM's resignation

"The budget is leaked on the internet and it lost its sanctity," Ramesh Chennithala
The Opposition demanded resignation of Thomas Isaac.

The presentation of Kerala Budget 2017 was marred by the allegations that the budget details were leaked to social media and the opposition alleging that the sanctity of the budget was lost.

The leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala interrupted Finance Minister Thomas Isaac as the latter was presenting the budget. Chennithala displayed few sheets of paper and started reading out from it alleging that the budget was already on the internet. The FM had already completed 2 hours of his speech when the Opposition came up with the startling revelation.

"The budget is leaked on the internet and it lost its sanctity," said Chennithala. The opposition members raised slogans and disrupted the FM's speech, alleging that such a grave leak happened for the first time in Kerala history.

Replying to allegations, Chief Minister clarified that the budget was not leaked and the details available on the net were those parts already presented by the FM.

Thomas Isaac tried to pacify the opposition and said that the issue raised by the Leader of Opposition was very serious. "I'll look into the matter once the budget speech is over," Isaac said.

"Presenting the budget further is irrelevant as it is already known to the public," Chennithala said. He also alleged that the budget was leaked from the FM's office.

When the FM continued to present the budget, the opposition staged a walk out. After the walk-out, Ramesh Chennithala presented the budget simultaneously at the Media Room of the Kerala Assembly. The Leader of Opposition also demanded the resignation of the Thomas Isaac.

The budget highlights had reached media persons before the speech and some pages of it were leaked on the internet.

Last Updated Mar 31, 2018, 6:31 PM IST