Kerala Assembly Proceedings Halted Amid Opposition Protest Over Sabarimala Gold Theft Case
The legislative proceedings in the Kerala Assembly came to a complete standstill on Thursday following a major disruption orchestrated by the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF). The protest was centered around demands for the immediate resignation of Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan in connection with the ongoing Sabarimala gold theft case.
House Adjourned Amid Chaotic Scenes
Soon after the customary obituary references and the announcement of an all-women panel of chairpersons for the session, UDF members entered the well of the House, brandishing placards and banners related to the gold theft incident. The opposition legislators began chanting a parody song titled 'Swarnam Kattavanarappa...', which directly accused the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) of involvement in the theft.
The disruption forced Speaker A N Shamseer to adjourn the House, with proceedings now scheduled to reconvene only on Tuesday. This move came after it became evident that normal legislative business could not continue due to the escalating chaos.
Opposition Leader's Firm Stand
Opposition Leader V D Satheesan made it unequivocally clear that the UDF would not allow the House to function until their demands were met. He stated, "The devaswom minister must resign and the Chief Minister's Office should stop interfering in the Special Investigation Team probe. There is no room for discussions and arguments under these circumstances."
Satheesan further alleged that the Chief Minister's Office was exerting undue pressure on the SIT, which is investigating the gold theft case under the supervision of the Kerala High Court. He also accused the CPM of being reluctant to take action against its senior leaders who have been arrested in connection with the case.
Counter-Allegations and Noisy Exchanges
As UDF members raised slogans and continued singing the parody song, LDF members attempted to turn the tables by shouting counter-slogans. They alleged that Congress leaders were actually responsible for the gold theft, leading to heated exchanges and noisy scenes on both sides of the House.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister M B Rajesh accused the opposition of disrupting proceedings because they lacked the courage or substantive points to engage in a proper debate with the government regarding the Sabarimala gold heist. He suggested that if the opposition genuinely wanted to uncover the truth behind the theft, they should question UDF convener Adoor Prakash and then approach Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, whom the accused persons in the case had reportedly visited in New Delhi.
Controversial Remarks and Demands
Education Minister V Sivankutty escalated the controversy by stating that Sonia Gandhi should be questioned and even arrested in connection with the case, as she allegedly knew about the whereabouts of the stolen gold. Following this remark, opposition members approached the speaker, demanding that the reference be expunged from the official House records.
Media Briefings and Political Accusations
Outside the Assembly, LDF leaders addressed the media, with former Health Minister K K Shailaja criticizing the opposition's protest. She accused the UDF of indulging in "cheap politics" and making baseless allegations to derail the legislative process.
Satheesan, however, brushed aside these criticisms, reiterating that discussions with the government were meaningless as long as the devaswom minister remained in office and the CMO continued to interfere with the SIT investigation.
The ongoing political turmoil highlights the deep-seated tensions between the ruling and opposition parties in Kerala, with the Sabarimala gold theft case serving as a flashpoint that has paralyzed legislative functions and intensified the war of words between the two sides.
