MlAs' shocking dance of destruction in House
The violence, vandalism and indecency the Kerala Assembly witnessed on Friday, will remain as a blot in the face of the democratic history of the State, known to the outside world as God's Own Country. lawmakers belonging to both the CPI(M)-led Opposition lDF and the Congress-headed ruling UDF performed a group dance of destruction and indecency for about an hour in an absurd game of cheap political victory and defeat, desecrating the temple of democracy without showing even the slightest regard for the people who had sent them there to look after their interests.
The Opposition MlAs, determined to block tainted Finance Minister KM Mani from presenting the 2015-16 Budget, targeted the Speaker and his dais, threw away the Speaker's chair, destroyed his computer and other implements and physically prevented him from entering the House. lawmakers fought with the House Watch and Ward, who were deployed in shockingly large numbers, and it soon became a physical battle between MlAs of the ruling and Opposition sides. leftist MlAs stood on the desks with folded-up dhotis and clenched fists, giving out battle calls.
Male legislators of the UDF grappled with woman MlAs of the left in an obviously indecent manner without any respect for womanhood. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Opposition leader VS Achuthanandan sat there without interfering and seemingly enjoying the show. Despite the din, Speaker N Sakthan gestured to Mr Mani that he could present the Budget. Mr Mani did that, read out the Budget for six minutes and ‘laid' the document on the table. Then the cheers broke out: Ruling front MlAs distributed sweets, howled at the Opposition and wrapped Mr Mani in kisses. What were they celebrating: Cheap victory in an ego war of politics or the humiliation of democracyIJ
The blame for what happened in the Assembly on Friday should fall primarily on the lDF. In its urgency to win at least one agitation, its leaders broke all barriers of democratic decency. The Congress-led UDF was no better. Instead of acting responsibly in the decisive minutes, it indulged in a physical battle with leftist MlAs, including women. All of them forgot the basic facts that the legislature was meant for lawmaking and not lawbreaking, and that people had voted them in to represent their interests and aspirations and not to shame them. Questions are being asked now as to whether the Speaker had examined the options available to him before granting permission for presentation of Budget. The Chief Minister, who allowed Mr Mani, facing charges of taking bribe and selling Budget proposals to interested sectors for money, to continue as Minister without any consideration for the public outrage against him, is also equally answerable. Mr Mani should also do some soul-searching in this 50th year of his legislative career. March 13, 2015, will remain as a Black Friday for the people of Kerala who witnessed the disgrace and for democracy.