UDF MLAs heckle Guv in assembly; Khan reads anti-CAA references
In an unprecedented move, opposition Congress-led UDF MLAs blocked Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan inside the state assembly on Wednesday (January 29) with 'go back' slogans and placards against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
Kerala assembly on Wednesday (January 29) witnessed some unprecedented scenes when the state Governor Arif Mohammed Khan walked in to deliver his address outlining the policy of the state government.
To begin with, opposition Congress-led UDF MLAs blocked him and raised “go back” slogans besides holding placards denouncing the Citizenship law.
The incident took place when Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan ushered Khan to the assembly hall for presenting the policy address.
Though the CM and the Speaker repeatedly tried to appease the agitating opposition members, they didn’t budge and continued to raise slogans against Khan and his stand, in
support of CAA.
After nearly 10 minutes of protest, watch and ward personnel removed the opposition members using force and cleared the governor’s way to the dias.
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As soon as the Governor reached the dias, the national anthem was played. The moment it got over, opposition members rushed into the well of the House and continued with their “governor go back” slogans.
When Khan began his address, the protesting members walked out of the assembly and staged a sit-in protest at the gate of the legislature.
Incidentally, Khan read out the references on the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) resolution, passed by the state assembly, while delivering his address.
Khan, who has been at loggerheads with the government over the resolution passed by the assembly and the petition moved in the Supreme court against the law, said though he has his “reservations and disagreement” over the subject, he would read paragraph 18 of the policy address, to “honour” the Chief Minister’s wish.
Reading out the anti-CAA stand of the state government, he said “our citizenship can never be on the basis of religion as this goes against the grain of secularism which is part of the basic structure of the constitution”.
(With inputs from agencies.)