Thiruvananthapuram: Electricity minister M. M. Mani claimed in the Assembly on Tuesday that his controversial speech in Munnar was not anti-women as he did not use the word sthree (women) even once during his speech. Reading out from a prepared text for a change, he explained that he had always been considerate with the ladies, amidst attempts by the opposition to disrupt him. “I have not insulted the members of Pompilai Orumai (the women solidarity). The media was deliberately telecasting the edited version of my speech as some of them were against me. I have worked with thousands of women labourers and have daughters at home," he argued.
He claimed that some of the media persons are associated with the encroachers, and he was referring to their activities. The opposition who created a ruckus demanding his resignation raised a black banner blocking the view of the speaker while the notice for the adjournment motion was taken for consideration during the Zero Hour. As speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan rejected the demand for the adjournment of regular business to discuss it after the replies of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Mr Mani, the opposition rushed into the well of the House raising slogans asking for the resignation of Mr Mani.
The Speaker ruled that it was not right to raise a banner in front of the speaker’s chair, and said that such protests are never seen before in any other assemblies. The opposition members responded raising the photos of the opposition members in the previous Assembly, including himself, vandalising the speaker's podium as they tried to prevent the then finance minister K. M. Mani presenting his budget speech.
