Kerala legislators fight in the state assembly during the budget session in Thiruvananthapuram yesterday.

By Ashraf Padanna/Thiruvananthapuram

Opposition members vandalised the Kerala Assembly yesterday as Finance Minister K M Mani presented the southern state’s annual budget.
The opposition members threw away the Speaker’s chair, damaged his computers and mic and attacked treasury benches in a bid to thwart Mani, whom they accuse of taking bribe from hoteliers and traders.
Speaker N Sakthan managed to give the nod for presentation of the document amidst the din and the minister completed the formalities and “laid the budget on the table of the House” in just six minutes.
He later briefed reporters on the budget highlights in the media room.
The opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) has called a state-wide shutdown today to protest against the “government action”.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said he had wanted to avoid a confrontation but had no other way as the government could not function without getting the Budget passed by the House before March 31.
The legislators, led by 93-year-old Communist leader V S Achuthanandan, had camped in the Assembly overnight as activists, including those of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP, laid siege outside.
Mani and other ministers, including Chief Minister Oommen Chandy slept over at the Assembly.
Vowing not to allow Mani to enter the House, the opposition had asked Chandy to drop the minister and to himself present the Budget.
Women members were seen leading the attack in an apparent bid to occupy the treasury benches. This led to unprecedented and shocking scenes.
Janata Dal (Secular) member Jameela Prakasam was seen biting Congress member K Sivadasan Nair on his shoulder as she tried to make her way to the chief minister’s seat.
Communist Party of India (CPI) member Bijimol tried to enter the treasury benches from another corner but was physically stopped by labour minister Shibu Baby John.
Similarly, Congress member M A Wahid thwarted an attempt by K K Lathika of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) to sneak in.
He said the women legislators had planned an attack on the chief minister.
Houses and offices of Nair in his Aranmula constituency and Wahid in the city also came under attack by unidentified groups. Wahid was hurt in stone-pelting on his house.
The Congress-led UDF enforced a shutdown in Pathanamthitta district in the afternoon in protest.
At a press conference later, Nair showed the media the bite marks he suffered.
At least nine members were hospitalised after some of them fainted and others sustained minor injuries. Twelve security guards were also hurt in the attack.
Home minister Ramesh Chennithala, who visited the members at the hospital, demanded Achuthanandan’s resignation.
“The incidents have shamed the entire state. It’s high time they end the culture of violence and return to parliamentary democracy,” Congress leader A K Antony said in New Delhi. “Everybody would be answerable to the people’s court.”
Outside the assembly, activists fought a pitched battle with nearly 3,000-strong police forces. Many, including deputy commissioner Ajeeta Beegum, were injured.
The protesters also torched several government vehicles, prompting the police to resort to baton charging and firing teargas shells and water cannons.
In the Supreme Court, Chief Justice H L Dattu said he had watched the happenings in Kerala and was shocked.
“Disgraceful scenes in Kerala Assembly as Left block finance minister, occupy Speaker’s dias & bite/shove UDF MLAs over unproven allegations,” Congress leader Shashi Tharoor tweeted.
“It was a black day for the state. It is a shame that the house turned into a battleground. It is high time for the angry members to introspect,” said a visibly upset Chandy.
The Speaker said he would take action against the erring members who had ransacked his chamber.
“The CPI-M and BJP wanted to create many martyrs. But their ploy fell flat,” Mani said.
The vigilance and anti-corruption bureau had registered a case against Mani last year in connection with charges of taking bribes from hotel owners to renew bar licences.
“A budget presented without the consent and presence of the Speaker is not valid. Our strike was a big success,” claimed Pinarayi Vijayan, widely seen as CPI-M’s chief minister candidate in the general elections next year.
“It is an attack on democracy. Even women legislators were not spared. We can’t be a mute spectator anymore,” said LDF convener Vaikom Viswan adding the opposition would step up protest against Mani in coming days.