Kerala: Attack On Protesters

The UDF government unleashed unprecedented storm of violence inside and outside the Kerala Legislative Assembly, injuring hundreds of people including MLAs, in a shameful attempt to get the Budget for financial year 2015-2016 placed in the Assembly by tainted finance minister K M Mani. Throwing all legislative norms and decorum to the winds, K M Mani, who is accused of various corruption allegations, read out the first page of the Budget when the Speaker was not present on the dais. Mani was standing in the fourth row of treasury bench, guarded by UDF legislators and a large number watch and ward staff.
In the ensuing commotion which lasted for thirty minutes, twenty MLAs including women were hurt and they have been hospitalized. Congress MLAs abused and manhandled them. Dr. T M Thomas Isaac, T V Rajesh and ShivanKutty (CPI M) and GeethaGopi (CPI) were pushed to the ground and suffered injuries.  K Shivadasan Nair and M A Wahid, both from Congress were in the forefront of attack and abuse, especially on women legislators. Watch and ward staff kicked T V Rajesh’s chest. CPIM MLA K S Saleekha and K KLathika, JDS MLA JameelaPrakasham and CPI MLA E S Bijimol were manhandled by UDF legislators. M  A Baby and Elamaram Kareem, K Radhakrishnan, K Kunjammed, Raju Abraham, K Ajith, C Divakaran, E K Vijayan were also hospitalized. Subsequently, finance minister read out the whole budget speech in media room in front of journalists.
It may be recalled that Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau had registered a case against Mani in December last year in connection with the allegations that he had accepted bribe from bar owners to renew liquor licenses. The allegations were leveled by Kerala Bar Hotel Owner’s Association Working president Biju Ramesh. LDF has been demanding resignation of KM Mani and organized the protest.
Members of LDF-led opposition also stayed back in the Assembly after Thursday’s session and sat in the well of the House since morning. Opposition MLAs, including senior leaders and women members, were adamant in their stand that they would not allow the “tainted” minister to present the budget. The government had deployed around thousand watch and ward staff.
LDF protestors, angry at the govt.’s insistence on getting Mani to present the Budget, successfully managed to obstruct newly elected Speaker N Shakthan from sitting on the dais. Later on he claimed that he had given a gesture from his chamber to allow Finance Minister to present the budget. He added that Chief Minister requested him to change the seat of K M Mani from front row to second row.
Outside the house police unleashed severe atrocities against the LDF workers. Hundreds of workers were attacked by the police. Many of them were hospitalized.