New Delhi: Kerala Culture Minister Saji Cherian resigned from his post on Wednesday after sparking controversy with his remarks on Indian Constitution. Earlier on Wednesday, Congress-led UDF Opposition leaders staged a protest outside the Kerala Assembly in Thiruvananthapuram after the Session was adjourned due to uproar over the same issue.
"I have resigned and it's my personal decision. I have never ever defamed the Constitution. A particular part from the speech was taken and the media fabricated it to weaken the CPIM and the LDF," Saji Cherian said as quoted by news agency ANI.
Also read | Kerala: Opposition Leaders Stage Protest Outside Assembly Over Cherian's Remarks On Constitution - Watch
Cherian, a two-time legislator from the Chengannur Assembly constituency in Alappuzha district, in a CPI-M programme that was held in Mallapally in Pathanamthitta on Sunday said, "The Constitution is what the British said and has been written by an Indian. It's something which one allows for loot and nothing there for the labour."
The video went viral on social media on Tuesday and the minister drew flak from the opposition. On Wednesday, Congress-led UDF opposition, staged a protest in the Assembly, due to which Speaker MB Rajesh adjourned the Assembly session just eight minutes after it had begun. The Opposition staged a sit-in outside the Assembly in Thiruvananthapuram after Assembly was adjourned for the day.
On Tuesday after the video surfaced on social media, Opposition leader in Kerala Assembly VD Satheesan said, "What Cherian said is not acceptable and Vijayan should ask for his resignation. If Vijayan does not act, we will seek legal recourse."
Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for External Affairs & Parliamentary Affairs, V Muraleedharan condemned Kerala Minister's comments and slammed him by saying Cherian made an "anti-national" comment.