Thiruvananthapuram: The opening day of the State Assembly session on Tuesday witnessed chaos with the opposition demanding the resignation of Electricity Minister M.M. Mani for his controversial remarks about women plantation workers, but Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan came out in defence of his cabinet colleagues. With the opposition rushing to the well, Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan rushed through the proceedings before adjourning the House for the day. Earlier, when the assembly proceedings began at 8.30 a.m. with the question hour, UDF members stood on their feet shouting slogans, demanding the suspension of Question Hour to discuss the adjournment motion to discuss the “indecent” remarks of Mani.
However, the Speaker said that they would be allowed to take up the issue at the appropriate time. While replying to the adjournment motion, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan claimed that Mani was speaking in his native rustic style and it was not intended to insult anyone. Some people were trying to take political advantage by creating a mountain out of a molehill, he said. Mr Vijayan criticised the media for twisting and misinterpreting Mani’s speech and the demolition of the holy cross at Pappathichola in Munnar saying that the revenue department demolished the holy cross without informing the police. The district administration also failed to inform about declaring section 144 there. “Also, they did not inform the government about the demolition of the holy cross,” he said, adding the government decision was to remove all major encroachments in Munnar.
The leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala asked if Mani had done no wrong, then why did he apologise after that. Though, all leaders including women leaders of the CPM condemned Mani's speech, Mr Vijayan was defending the statement made by the minister, he said. “Once the CPM had tall leaders like EMS, now it is led by people like Mani” said Chennithala. Mr Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, referring to a statement made by Mani a few days back that the sub collector heading the evacuation drive in Munnar must be sent to Oolampara, said “send anyone to Oolampara but not Mani, as the inmates may run away from there” while moving the adjournment motion. Mani has made statements insulting womanhood in the past as was evident from the insulting references to Mahija, mother of Jishnu Prannoy, he added. Mr Radhakrishnan further urged the Chief Minister not to insult the entire natives of Idukki by justifying what Mani said as being in his“his native style.”
