Amid Opposition outcry, the Assembly on Monday passed the contentious Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland (Amendment) Bill, 2018 by majority vote after nearly seven hours of legislative wrangling.
The Opposition furore reached such a pitch that members tore up the Bill and walked out of the House at the fag end of the marathon session, ignoring Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s request to hear him.
Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala called the Bill a “black law” that would upend the remarkable conservation gains brought about by the original Act framed by the V.S. Achuthanandan government in 2008.
He said Mr. Achuthanandan pointedly avoided the debate to send out his message of dissent to the public.
“Mr. Vijayan strangled VS’s golden baby today. This day (June 25) will live in infamy as the day of betrayal,” Mr. Chennithala said.
He said the CPI, in thrall to Mr. Vijayan, had authored the dirge to Mr. Achuthanandan’s legislative achievement.
