'Governor go back': Opposition protests in Kerala Assembly over amended Lokayukta law
India Today
The Opposition protested inside the Kerala Assembly with placards and banners, accusing Governor Arif Khan of signing the ordinance to protect Chief Minister Vijayan.
The budget session of the Kerala Assembly began on a stormy note Tuesday with the Congress-led UDF raising “go back” slogans against Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and staging a protest sit-in at the portal of the House after boycotting the proceedings.
As soon as the Governor entered the Assembly hall to deliver his customary policy address, the Opposition, with banners and placards that read “Government-Governor unholy nexus”, began sloganeering. The Opposition alleged that the Governor had signed the Lokayukta ordinance to protect Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
The Ordinance, brought by the Left government, led to a political storm in the state as the Opposition objected to it, saying it would weaken the anti-corruption watchdog.
When Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan tried to say something, a visibly irritated Khan said it was not the time for protest.
Calling the Leader of the Opposition a "responsible person'', Arif Khan said they have an Assembly session ahead for such discussions. Ignoring the intense sloganeering, he began reading the policy document.
As soon as the address began, the sloganeering opposition members walked out of the hall and continued their sit-in outside.
The dramatic scenes played out a day after Governor Khan refused to sign the policy document of the CPI(M)-led LDF government, expressing strong displeasure over a letter written by it against the appointment of a senior journalist-turned politician in a key post in the Raj Bhavan.
