Kerala Assembly Reprimands UDF Members for Disruptive Protest
The Kerala Assembly recently passed a motion to reprimand four members of the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) for breaching parliamentary etiquette. The incident occurred during a protest against the Speaker in the House. Parliamentary Affairs Minister MB Rajesh moved the motion, condemning the opposition’s act of raising a banner to cover the Speaker’s face, despite repeated warnings to stop.
Chief Minister’s Statement
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan criticized the opposition’s conduct, stating it crossed all boundaries of parliamentary decorum. He highlighted that similar actions in the past led to suspensions of CPI[M] MLAs. Vijayan emphasized the need to maintain the dignity of the Assembly and supported the Speaker’s actions as per parliamentary procedures.
Opposition’s Response
Leader of the Opposition VD Satheeshan argued that holding banners and raising slogans in the Assembly is not unprecedented. He accused the Speaker of bias and unnecessary intervention, opposing the motion. Satheeshan also criticized the downgrading of 45 starred questions, claiming it undermined the opposition’s right to address important issues.
Speaker’s Clarification
Speaker AN Shamseer clarified that the conversion of starred questions was not a rule violation but based on their speculative nature. Despite this explanation, the opposition continued their protest, demanding accountability on significant matters, including a meeting involving the ADGP and RSS leaders.
Doubts Revealed
Kerala Assembly -: The Kerala Assembly is the place where elected representatives of the state of Kerala meet to discuss and make laws. It’s like a big meeting room for politicians in Kerala.
UDF -: UDF stands for United Democratic Front, which is a group of political parties in Kerala that work together. They are one of the main political alliances in the state.
Parliamentary etiquette -: Parliamentary etiquette refers to the rules and manners that members of the assembly must follow during meetings. It’s like having good behavior and following rules in a classroom.
Protest against the Speaker -: A protest against the Speaker means that some members of the assembly were unhappy with the person in charge of the meeting, called the Speaker, and showed their disagreement.
MB Rajesh -: MB Rajesh is the Parliamentary Affairs Minister in Kerala. He is responsible for managing the activities and discussions in the assembly.
Pinarayi Vijayan -: Pinarayi Vijayan is the Chief Minister of Kerala, which means he is the head of the government in the state. He is like the captain of the team running Kerala.
VD Satheeshan -: VD Satheeshan is the Leader of the Opposition in Kerala. He leads the group of politicians who are not in the ruling government and often challenge their decisions.
Starred questions -: Starred questions are special questions asked in the assembly that require an oral answer. They are marked with a star and are important for discussions.