VD Satheesan, Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Legislative Assembly, said Saji Cherian had echoed Golwalkar’s opinion that the Constitution was a colonial bequest to the nation.
VD Satheesan, Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Legislative Assembly, said Saji Cherian had echoed Golwalkar’s opinion that the Constitution was a colonial bequest to the nation.
The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) opposition on Wednesday disrupted the assembly proceedings demanding the resignation of the Culture and Fisheries Minister. Saji Cherian on his alleged derogatory remarks about the Constitution,
The opposition’s protest began when Speaker MB Rajesh stepped on the stage indicating the commencement of the Question Hour.
UDF legislators flourished copies of the Preamble to the Constitution and raised placards condemning Mr. Cherian’s statement.
He accused Mr Cherian of publicly rejecting his ministerial oath. The opposition said Mr Cherian had lost his right to continue in office.
Treasury benches rose in support of Mr. Cherian. The UDF MLAs came to the well of the House and stormed the Speaker’s podium.
Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan demanded the Speaker of the Assembly to set aside the General Assembly business to debate Mr Cherian’s controversial statements about the Constitution.
Three-minute video clip of Mr. Cherian’s speech at the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] The program unfolded on Tuesday, following which the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) started protests demanding Mr. Cherian’s resignation.
Shri Rajesh said that he can consider the adjournment motion only during Zero Hour. He said the previous Speakers had rejected the adjournment motions moved during the Question Hour. Shri Rajesh requested the opposition to respect the previous decisions and maintain precedence.
Mr. Satisan opposed the Speaker’s decision and expelled the UDF legislators from the House. The MLAs continued their dharna in front of the statue of Dr. BR Ambedkar in the assembly premises. Shri Rajesh adjourned the proceedings of the House for the day.
Speaking to reporters after the opposition’s walkout, Mr. Satishan said Mr. Cherian spoke in the voice of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ideologue MS Golwalkar.
He said Mr Cherian had echoed Golwalkar’s opinion that the Constitution was a colonial bequest to the nation.
Mr Satisan alleged that Mr Cherian had tried to reduce the stature of Dr BR Ambedkar, the revered architect of the Constitution.
Mr. Satishan said that Mr. Cherian had called the constitution anti-worker. The Minister should understand that the Pro-Labour Industrial Disputes Act and the Minimum Wages Act were part of Indian law.
Mr. Satisan said: “Mr. Cherian should quit his post and join the RSS where he actually belongs. He may even become a Union minister.”
He demanded that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan tell whether the government shared Mr Cherian’s views on the Constitution.
CPI(M) should clarify its position on this issue. Mr. Satheesan said the opposition would agitate until Mr. Vijayan expelled Mr. Cherian from the cabinet.
Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader PK Kunhalikutty said Mr Cherian weakened the national movement in one stroke against the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government’s attempts to subvert the secular, federal and democratic foundations of the Constitution. .
Meanwhile, the government has reportedly sought a legal opinion on the matter.
minister’s stand
Mr Cherian had said that the media misunderstood his speech as against the Constitution. He said he had spoken for three hours on Sunday at an event only for CPI(M) members at Mallappally in Pathanamthitta. This was not a public forum.
Mr Cherian claimed that television channels had aired a selective version of his speech. He had only seen that despite 75 years of independence, social justice remained a distant dream for the masses. However, the video clip that went viral in the media was barely three minutes long.
Meanwhile, the CPI(M) was conducting an internal probe into the origin of the video clip.
Opposition disrupts Kerala assembly demanding resignation of Saji Cherian over alleged anti-constitutional remarks
VD Satheesan, Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Legislative Assembly, said Saji Cherian had echoed Golwalkar’s opinion that the Constitution was a colonial bequest to the nation.
VD Satheesan, Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Legislative Assembly, said Saji Cherian had echoed Golwalkar’s opinion that the Constitution was a colonial bequest to the nation.
The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) opposition on Wednesday disrupted the assembly proceedings demanding the resignation of the Culture and Fisheries Minister. Saji Cherian on his alleged derogatory remarks about the Constitution,
The opposition’s protest began when Speaker MB Rajesh stepped on the stage indicating the commencement of the Question Hour.
UDF legislators flourished copies of the Preamble to the Constitution and raised placards condemning Mr. Cherian’s statement.
He accused Mr Cherian of publicly rejecting his ministerial oath. The opposition said Mr Cherian had lost his right to continue in office.
Treasury benches rose in support of Mr. Cherian. The UDF MLAs came to the well of the House and stormed the Speaker’s podium.
Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan demanded the Speaker of the Assembly to set aside the General Assembly business to debate Mr Cherian’s controversial statements about the Constitution.
Three-minute video clip of Mr. Cherian’s speech at the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] The program unfolded on Tuesday, following which the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) started protests demanding Mr. Cherian’s resignation.
Shri Rajesh said that he can consider the adjournment motion only during Zero Hour. He said the previous Speakers had rejected the adjournment motions moved during the Question Hour. Shri Rajesh requested the opposition to respect the previous decisions and maintain precedence.
Mr. Satisan opposed the Speaker’s decision and expelled the UDF legislators from the House. The MLAs continued their dharna in front of the statue of Dr. BR Ambedkar in the assembly premises. Shri Rajesh adjourned the proceedings of the House for the day.
Speaking to reporters after the opposition’s walkout, Mr. Satishan said Mr. Cherian spoke in the voice of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ideologue MS Golwalkar.
He said Mr Cherian had echoed Golwalkar’s opinion that the Constitution was a colonial bequest to the nation.
Mr Satisan alleged that Mr Cherian had tried to reduce the stature of Dr BR Ambedkar, the revered architect of the Constitution.
Mr. Satishan said that Mr. Cherian had called the constitution anti-worker. The Minister should understand that the Pro-Labour Industrial Disputes Act and the Minimum Wages Act were part of Indian law.
Mr. Satisan said: “Mr. Cherian should quit his post and join the RSS where he actually belongs. He may even become a Union minister.”
He demanded that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan tell whether the government shared Mr Cherian’s views on the Constitution.
CPI(M) should clarify its position on this issue. Mr. Satheesan said the opposition would agitate until Mr. Vijayan expelled Mr. Cherian from the cabinet.
Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader PK Kunhalikutty said Mr Cherian weakened the national movement in one stroke against the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government’s attempts to subvert the secular, federal and democratic foundations of the Constitution. .
Meanwhile, the government has reportedly sought a legal opinion on the matter.
minister’s stand
Mr Cherian had said that the media misunderstood his speech as against the Constitution. He said he had spoken for three hours on Sunday at an event only for CPI(M) members at Mallappally in Pathanamthitta. This was not a public forum.
Mr Cherian claimed that television channels had aired a selective version of his speech. He had only seen that despite 75 years of independence, social justice remained a distant dream for the masses. However, the video clip that went viral in the media was barely three minutes long.
Meanwhile, the CPI(M) was conducting an internal probe into the origin of the video clip.