CM Vijayan mocks opposition MLA's height in Assembly, sparks row
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s remarks on Wednesday mocking the short stature of an opposition MLA in the state assembly, invited sharp criticism from Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan, who called it "body shaming".
The Congress leader wrote to Assembly Speaker A N Shamseer demanding that the comments be expunged from the official records.
Satheesan said by ridiculing the opposition MLA, Vijayan has "tarnished the dignity" of the Assembly and violated parliamentary propriety.
The CM made the remarks in the Assembly shortly after the opposition members boycotted the proceedings following dramatic scenes in the House.
During Question Hour, there was a scuffle between opposition MLAs and watch-and-ward staff, and shouting between ruling and opposition benches over the issue of "missing" gold from the dwarapalaka idols of the Sabarimala temple.
Referring to the opposition protest in the well of the House and their alleged scuffle with watch-and-ward staff, including women, the Chief Minister mocked the alleged action of an opposition MLA without naming him.
Vijayan used colloquial language to refer to the MLA’s short stature and linked it to his alleged unruly behaviour in the Assembly.
He added that the MLA acted aggressively not because of his own physical strength, but by relying on the protection afforded to him as an MLA.
LoP Satheesan hit out at the Chief Minister over his remarks.
"That is a politically incorrect statement. It is body shaming. Calling them progressives is meaningless. They ought to be living in 19th-century Spain," Satheesan told reporters outside the Assembly.
Later, he wrote a letter to the Speaker claiming that the Chief Minister’s remark against the opposition MLA’s short stature and physical capacity tarnished the dignity of the House and was contrary to parliamentary decorum.
In the letter, he quoted specific remarks made by the Chief Minister in the House.
According to him, Vijayan stated, "There is a common saying in my village: like something stacked up to eight and three-quarters 'atti' (a local measure). That is all the height he has. Yet he comes here and goes on the offensive. One can clearly see that his own physical strength is insufficient for that. But, making use of the protection afforded by being an MLA, he dares to attack the watch-and-ward staff -- even going so far as to be prepared to attack the female staff as well."
The state Assembly has been witnessing fierce opposition protests over the Sabarimala gold-plating issue.
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KKR defeat LSG via Super Over
Lucknow (PTI): Kolkata Knight Riders edged Lucknow Super Giants via Super Overs in a battle between two bottom-placed teams in the IPL, here on Sunday.
Chasing a modest 156, LSG suffered a batting collapse and managed to tie the contest and take it to Super Over with No. 9 Mohammed Shami striking a last-ball six against a wayward Kartik Tyagi, who leaked 16 runs in the final over.
But Sunil Narine bowled a stunning Super Over conceding just one run and taking two wickets to give KKR an easy target.
Rinku Singh then finished the chase with a boundary off first ball from Prince Yadav.
Earlier the KKR were in deep trouble with 93/7 in 15 overs but Rinku smashed a sensational 83 not out from 51 balls including four sixes in a row in the final over to lift them to 155/7.
Cameron Green (34) was the only other batter to reach double-digit scores as KKR suffered a familiar batting meltdown with Mohsin taking his maiden fifer.
In reply, LSG continued their dismal show with the bat to succumb to their fifth loss in a row.
Brief Scores:
Kolkata Knight Riders 155/7; 20 overs (Rinku Singh 83 not out, Cameron Green 34; Mohsin Khan 5/23). Lucknow Super Giants 155/8; 20 overs (Rishabh Pant 42). KKR won via Super Over.
