Violence brand Kerala budget presentation-The Assembly Kerala witnessed unprecedented violence on Friday as leftist opposition Democratic Front (LDF) members tried to prevent Finance Minister KM Mani, who bribery charges faces in connection with the row licensed bar, to present 2015-2016 budget.
The budget speech, 140 printed pages, lasted just six minutes as members of the opposition, who had occupied the platform speaker from early morning, pushed the watch and ward staff to approach him and almost reached hands with their counterparts Treasury bank in an attempt to break the safety cover around the Minister of Finance.
Up to nine MLAs of the opposition were admitted to hospital after some collapsed and others complained of exhaustion. Twelve security personnel and ward were also admitted to the hospital with minor injuries.
Meeting shortly after the dissolution of the House, leadership LDF hartal announced a dawn to dusk on Saturday to protest ‘attack’ on the MLAs of opposition and activists lathi charge.
The violence witnessed in the Kerala Assembly today as the Finance Minister presented his is by no means an isolated budget. Assemblies of the States in India have seen their share of anarchy. Here is a list of five unforgettable cases:
Police lathi charge and tear gas needed after MLAs of opposition LDF destroy the furniture in the State Assembly, to protest the State Finance Minister KM Mani’s offer to present the annual budget. Announcing the LDF held a sit in the House, opposition leader insisted that Mr. Mani was involved in a case of surveillance, had abused his official position. MLA P. Thilothaman claimed the sanctity of the budget had been lost as Mr. Mani had sold for personal gain.
The fight anything goes not in the Kerala Assembly earlier in the day he found an echo in both Houses of Parliament on Friday as the Congress party members left the State argued among themselves about the events.
The Central Ministers intervened in both Houses noted that issues a state legislature can not be discussed by Parliament. However, members kept busy, making an attempt to raise the issue despite the Presidency not allow it.
When K.N. Balagopal CPI (M) attempted to address the question while raising another question in Rajya Sabha, Vice PJ Kurien instructed that every reference to the State Assembly be deleted from the records.
