Unruly scenes in the Kerala Assembly as state Finance Minister KM Mani tabled the state Budget Friday March 13,2015

 

Unruly scenes were witnessed in the Kerala Assembly as state Finance Minister KM Mani tabled the state Budget amid high protests on Friday March 13,2015

Kerala Finance Minister K.M. Mani on Friday presented the 13th state budget amid ruckus created by members of the Left opposition who are demanding his resignation.

 

Opposition MLAs tried to reach Mani's seat forcing their way through the large number of Watch and Ward staff guarding the Finance Minister, while UDF MLAs cheered and shouted slogans as Mani presented his 13th budget.

Ruling United Democratic Front and Opposition Left Democratic Front MLAs came to blows, pushed and shoved each other. They even threw the Speaker's chair, overturned tables and shouted slogans.

Four LDF MLAs were injured in the incident but Opposition is still continuing with its protest inside the House.

KM Mani tabled the budget after a brief speech - most likely the shortest budget speech in the history of Kerala Assembly.

Note

Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau had registered a case against Mani in December 2014 in connection with the allegations that he had accepted bribe from bar owners to renew liquor licences
 
K M Mani along with more than 70 MLAs of the Kerala's ruling UDF have been holed up inside the Assembly for the last 20 hours. This even as Opposition leaders including VS Achuthanandan have staging a sit-in inside the Assembly hall since Thursday morning.

Hundreds of activists of LDF and Yuva Morcha have converged around the state Assembly Complex as part of a protest siege to check Mani from presenting the Budget over the bar bribery issue.

Though a high level security was placed and barricades had been set up by police in the vicinity, activists began to pour in large numbers in the area since Thursday evening.

Tension mounted in the state capital after LDF opposition warned the Congress-headed UDF government that they would go to any extent if Mani, facing allegations in the bar bribery case, would try to present the Budget and Chandy made it clear in the Assembly that Mani himself would present the budget as he has the constitutional right for it.

Taking up the challenge of the Opposition,Chief Minister Oommen Chandy maintained in the Assembly that allegations against Mani were part of a "political conspiracy" and asserted that the minister himself would present the Budget.

Reacting to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy's stand, CPI(M) veteran and Opposition leader Achuthanandan said the government would have to face consequences if it let "tainted" Mani present the budget and Chandy alone would be responsible for that.