Updated
Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 13 (IANS): The Kerala assembly witnessed unruly scenes on Friday as members of the Left opposition broke the speaker's chair and the electronic equipment. Finance Minister K.M. Mani tabled the 13th state budget amid the ruckus.
The finance minister had to be escorted by the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) and a huge battery of Watch and Ward Staff so that he could read out the budget.
Trouble has been brewing since Thursday afternoon when all the Left legislators stayed back for the night to ensure that Mani is not allowed to enter the assembly. They have been accusing him of taking a bribe of Rs.1 crore to reopen the closed down bars in the state and have demanded his resignation.
Mani chose to remain in the assembly cabin for the night.
On Friday morning, the atmosphere was tense as angry Left legislators, prevented Mani from entering the assembly.
Ahead of the scheduled 9 a.m start of the proceedings, a group of protesters stopped Speaker N. Sakthan from taking his seat.
Ugly scenes were seen in the assembly when the Left legislators threw out the speaker's chair, pulled out his computer and all the electronic equipment was thrown away.
After a while, Mani was seen escorted to the floor of the assembly by a group of UDF legislators and security staff. But as he began reading out the budget, the opposition Left legislators, including six women MLAs, barged towards him. Their attempt to obstruct the proceeding was thwarted by the security staff and in the melee a scuffle broke out.
A few minutes later, Mani tabled the budget.
Leader of Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan and Chief Minister Oommen Chandy witnessed the ruckus helplessly. Three Left opposition legislators were given preliminary first aid.
Outside the assembly complex, supporters of the youth wing of the CPI-M and the BJP continued their protest. As word of trouble in the floor of the assembly spread, angry party workers tried to break the barricade erected by police but they were chased away by the police using lathis and water canons.
Earlier Report
Bar bribery case: LDF, Yuva Morcha activists lay siege around Kerala Assembly
Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 13 (PTI): Hundreds of activists of LDF and Yuva Morcha have converged around the state Assembly Complex here as part of a protest siege to check state Finance Minister K M Mani from presenting the budget today over the bar bribery issue.
Though a high level security was placed and barricades had been set up by police in the vicinity, activists began to pour in large numbers in the area since last evening.
Tension mounted in the state capital after CPI(M)-led LDF opposition warned the Congress-headed UDF government that they would go to any extent if Mani, facing allegations in the bar bribery case, would try to present the budget and Chief Minister Oommen Chandy made it clear in the Assembly that Mani himself would present the budget as he has the constitutional right for it.
Putting pressure on the ruling Front, the LDF MLAs stayed in the Assembly complex last night as part of their plans to check Mani inside the House while he comes to present the budget in the morning.
Apparently fearing the blockage and siege, Mani and some of his cabinet colleagues also stayed back inside the Assembly complex last night.
Taking up the challenge of the Opposition, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy maintained in the Assembly yesterday that allegations against Mani were part of a "political conspiracy" and asserted that the minister himself would present the budget.
Reacting to Chandy's stand, CPI(M) veteran and Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan said the government would have to face consequences if it let "tainted" Mani present the budget and Chandy alone would be responsible for that.
Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau had registered a case against Mani in December last year in connection with the allegations that he had accepted bribe from bar owners to renew liquor licences.
The allegations were levelled by Kerala state Bar Hotel Owner's Association Working President Biju Ramesh.