Kerala Congress Alleges Speaker Refused To Address Demands, 5 Party Leaders Stage 'Satyagraha' In Assembly

The protest was announced by the Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly, VD Satheesan, soon after the House assembled at 9 am

Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly VD Satheesan.

The Congress-led opposition in Kerala Assembly Tuesday decided to stage an indefinite strike in Assembly after there was no inititative from Speaker to address the opposition's demand. Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly, VD Satheesan, said that five Opposition leaders including a woman MLA will go on strike demanding Speaker to address the opposition to allow the question hour.   

"5 opposition MLAs including a woman MLA will start an indefinite strike in the well of the Assembly today after there was no initiative from Speaker's side to address the opposition's demands," VD Satheesan said as quoted by news agency ANI.

5 opposition MLAs including a woman MLA will start an indefinite strike in the well of the Assembly today after there was no initiative from Speaker's side to address the opposition's demands: VD Satheesan, LoP, Kerala Assembly

(file pic) pic.twitter.com/oX2sCANnov

— ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2023

The protest was announced by the Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly, VD Satheesan, soon after the House assembled at 9 am.

As soon as the question hour began, Satheesan stood up and declared that opposition members Anwar Sadath, Kurukkoli Moideen, AKM Ashraf, T J Vinod and Uma Thomas would stage an indefinite satyagraha in the well of the House against the government, accusing it of not taking steps to ensure the proper functioning of the House.

He alleged that the government's "arrogant" approach was the reason for the opposition protest.

The government stated that the opposition protest was against the rules of the House proceedings.

The Kerala Assembly has been witnessing opposition protests since last week against the "restrictions" on moving adjournment motions to discuss certain issues in the House.

The Opposition also criticised the government for registering "false non-bailable cases" against several opposition MLAs, including two women, in connection with an unprecedented organised in front of the Speaker's office in the Assembly complex last week.