Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: The Kerala Legislative Assembly witnessed high drama on Monday, as Opposition MLAs created a commotion over the alleged disappearance of gold sheets used for plating the Sabarimala sanctum sanctorum, forcing Speaker AN Shamseer to cancel the Question Hour and adjourn proceedings temporarily.
The uproar began when Opposition leader VD Satheesan raised the issue during Question Hour, demanding the resignation of the Devaswom Minister and Travancore Devaswom Board President. When the Speaker called on members to proceed with scheduled questions, the Opposition staged a protest in the well of the House, carrying placards and banners with slogans such as “Ayyappan’s gold stolen, temple devoured by looters.”
Tensions in the Assembly
The protest obstructed the Speaker’s view, prompting ministers and ruling front members to stand in opposition. Finance Minister KN Balagopal condemned the actions, calling the disruption “unprecedented and improper”, while Speaker AN Shamseer stated that obstructing proceedings amounted to disrespect towards the people. Despite being directed to lower their banners, the protests continued, leading the Speaker to cancel Question Hour and temporarily adjourn the House.
Shamseer questioned the Opposition’s approach, asking: “Why disrupt the House without even giving a single notice?”
Background of the controversy
Last week, the Opposition had tried to move an adjournment motion on the Sabarimala gold issue. However, the Speaker ruled it out, citing that the matter was under consideration of the Kerala High Court. Undeterred, the Opposition announced plans to intensify protests over the controversy in the coming days.
Government response
Parliamentary Affairs Minister MB Rajesh criticised the Opposition, saying:
“This is the Assembly that has discussed the highest number of adjournment motions in Kerala’s history. The government has consistently demonstrated the courage to address any issue. The Opposition has now lost the courage to face a discussion.”
Rajesh added that disrupting the Question Hour was a sporadic act in history, reflecting the Opposition’s inability to confront the issue. He claimed that the Opposition came with pre-written scripts, using banners and placards to stage a drama, and stated:
“Before the people, the Opposition stands exposed. The Pinarayi government has a history of bringing every wrongdoer to justice.”
Conclusion
Monday’s events in the Kerala Assembly underscore the heightened political tensions surrounding the Sabarimala gold-plating controversy. While the Opposition continues to demand accountability, the government maintains it is ready to address all issues within legal and parliamentary frameworks, leaving the debate over the temple gold unresolved for the time being.