Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s comment on an opposition member’s height sparked controversy in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, amid a continued uproar over the Sabarimala temple’s “missing gold.”
The Congress-led opposition disrupted proceedings for the third consecutive day, with members taking to the Floor of the House, holding banners and placards that obscured the Speaker’s face.
Responding to the protest, Vijayan said, “Have we seen a protest anywhere in the country where the opposition hides the Speaker? What is their demand? They are afraid of facts but are creating a smokescreen. We are not afraid of any smokescreen. We have never protected culprits.”
He added, “I saw two or three opposition members attacking the Watch and Ward (Assembly security personnel). I saw it from here. Watch and Ward are also human beings. They were facing pressure, and one person showed signs of fatigue. Why attempt to attack these silent beings?”
The Chief Minister further noted that a woman opposition member was seen pushing the Watch and Ward staff. “Though the woman is short and hence does not have the strength to attack, she was doing so because she knows MLAs get protection inside the Assembly,” he said.
Opposition Leader V D Satheesan condemned the remark, telling the media, “How tall should a person be? Does the Chief Minister have a measuring tape with him? This is a politically incorrect statement. A person’s poor health or dwarfism should not become a subject of ridicule.”