Kerala Governor tells Oppn: Be quiet or leave House

The former CJI’s remark came when the LDF repeatedly tried to obstruct his customary policy address with slogans demanding the resignation of the Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and some of his Cabinet colleagues, facing bribery allegations in the bar and solar scams. 

According to assembly sources, this is the first time in state assembly history that the Governor has chided the Opposition. Governors either used to cut short their address or place it on the table of the House, which is taken as read. As the protest continued, an annoyed Justice Sathasivam, asked the Opposition to allow him to complete his constitutional duties and requested them to “sit quiet or leave the House.” 

The Governor kept his cool but asserted that he has to fulfil the constitutional duty. When some LDF members requested the Governor to table the address, Sathasivam quipped “I have full energy and I will read it slowly.” The Governor said, “You have raised your democratic protest. You are opposing this government. That is enough. You should allow me to do my constitutional duty. I am noting all your objections.” “The entire nation is watching. People are noting your objection. 

I think there is some limit. Beyond a point, it cannot be tolerated,” he said addressing CPI-M veteran and Opposition leader, V S Achuthanandan. At one point, the Governor even asked the Opposition to read the Constitution. Seeing no let-up in the LDF protest, Sathasivam told CPI-M state secretary and deputy leader of the Opposition in the House, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan that “this may happen to you also.” 

“I am aware whatever protest you are doing is not against me, but against the government,” he said to pacify the Opposition. Later, the Opposition trooped out raising slogans against the government and Chief Minister. In his two-and-a-half-hour speech, the Governor noted several major infrastructure projects like Kochi metro, light metro, Kannur Airport and Vizhinjam Port initiated during the period. 

He noted that Kerala’s growth rate of 12.3 per cent was higher than the national average. The government would provide 75,000 houses to the poor during the current financial year as part of the government’s commitment to provide houses for all.