The 14th Kerala Legislative Assembly's final Budget session got off to a tumultuous start with the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) opposition boycotting Kerala Governor Arif Muhammad Khan’s policy address.
Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala set the tone for what portends to be a stormy month-long sitting ahead of the Assembly polls in May.
Kerala Governor’s address updates | ‘Agrarian laws favour corporates and middlemen’
Speaking out of turn at the start of the Governor's address, Mr Chennithala damned the Pinarayi Vijayan government as irredeemably corrupt and villainous. He questioned the constitutional propriety of Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan chairing the session.
The Speaker was under a cloud of suspicion, he said. The opposition had moved a statutory resolution under article 179 of the Indian Constitution to remove Mr. Sreeramakrishnan from his office on the charge of lowering the House's esteem by associating with gold smugglers. Mr. Sreeramakrishnan had forfeited his right to sit on the dais alongside the Governor, Mr. Chennithala said.
Following his cue, Opposition members commenced sloganeering about governmental corruption and its alleged links with gold smugglers. They raised placards and banners against the Chief Minister and Speaker.
Governor objects disruption by the opposition
Mr. Khan objected to the UDF commotion. He veered away from the scripted policy address twice, requesting opposition members to allow him to discharge his constitutional duty.
“Honourable members, I am doing my constitutional duty. It is expected no impediment be created when the governor is performing his constitutional duty. You have raised your objection. Now let me do my constitutional duty”, he said. Mr. Chennithala, in turn, sought Mr. Khan's leave to discharge his responsibility as Opposition Leader.
UDF legislators persisted in their protests for about ten minutes before trooping out of the House. They later staged a sit-in protest on steps leading to the Assembly chamber, raising banners and slogans against the government.
UDF lawmakers said Mr. Vijayan presided over an “underworld” government. Mr. Sreeramakrishnan had given gold smugglers free rein to use his office for illegal purposes. Both had lost the right to continue in government, they stated.
Former Chief Minister Oomen Chandy, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader M. K. Muneer, Kerala Congress (M) leader P. J. Joseph led the charge.
Policy address critical of Centre, farm laws
Mr. Khan struck to the script. He read out portions of the policy address that was critical of the Central government. The statement found fault with the farm laws.
“The agrarian laws will undermine regulated markets, ensure the demise of minimum support price, diminish the bargaining power of farmers, impede their choice of crops, aid corporates and middlemen”. Anti-worker labour laws have caused widespread unrest and strikes, he said.
Mr. Khan said Central investigation agencies had “overstepped the constitutional controls and impeded development and flagship programmes”. Their overreach had a “demoralising effect on honest and hardworking officers”.
He stressed the need to reinforce “cooperative federalism”. “Centre and States are equal partners. Any action that runs counter to the spirit does not conform to federal principles”, he said. Kerala would actively champion the cause of federalism.
Social welfare aided citizens during economic distress
The pandemic had cratered the State economy. However, social welfare and development had not suffered. No one starved. The government delivered free COVID-19 medical care to citizens' doorstep with the help of community volunteers and LSGIs.
It pushed ahead with health, education, agriculture and infrastructure modernisation schemes using funds generated from the open financial market via Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB).
The Centre should pay GST dues it owed States, raise their borrowing limit and backstop the loans raised by them. It should uphold the constitutional duty to protect and bolster secularism, Mr. Khan said.
Shadow of COVID-19
The Assembly had convened under the persistent shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lawmakers had filed into the House wearing face masks and after an antigen test to detect infection, if any. The seats were arranged in a spaced manner.
Visitors were not allowed into the House. The Governor's address commenced at 9 a.m. and ended at 11.20 a.m.
