History was created in the Kerala Legislative Assembly on Friday with Governor P. Sathasivam publicly acknowledging the Opposition Left Democratic Front's protests against the >Oommen Chandy Government and urging the Opposition to take their case to the people, rather than disrupting his customary policy address to the House on the opening day of the budget session.
Mr. Sathasivam, who was about to deliver the customary policy address, took both the government and the Opposition off their guard with his observations when the Opposition began disrupting his speech with sloganeering seeking resignation of the Oommen Chandy government, which is faced with serious charges of corruption over the solar scam and the bar bribery row.
"Mr. Achuthanandan, you have raised your point. You have to communicate it to the people. You have to allow me to do my Constitutional duty. Either you sit or you go out. Take it to the people," Mr. Sathasivam said after Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan made a brief statement on the corruption charges against the government and urging him to take on these. Mr. Sathasivam did not begin his speech till the Opposition Leader was through with his statement.
ADVERTISEMENT
When the Opposition members persisted with their sloganeering even as he began his address, the Governor said nobody could tolerate it beyond a point. "I am bound to do my Constitutional duty. Please read the Constitution... I have full energy. I will read slowly... I am aware that your protest is not against me, but against the government... Entire nation is watching you. People are watching your objections," Mr. Sathasivam said.
The Governor's remarks appeared to cause some confusion in the Opposition benches, but soon the Opposition members obliged to his request and moved out of the House shouting slogans against the government.