Kerala Opposition Leader Apologizes for Assembly Remark

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 19 (PTI) - Kerala's Leader of Opposition, V D Satheesan, extended an apology to the state's Food and Civil Supplies Minister, G R Anil, in the assembly on Friday. This gesture came after he accused the minister of "telling lies" during a debate on the rising prices of essential commodities the previous day. Satheesan explained that his remark was made "due to sudden provocation," following a prompt from Janata Dal (Secular) MLA, Mathew T Thomas, who noted the comment was unparliamentary. In response, Satheesan stated, "I took note of the same and today (Friday) I wrote to the Speaker that I am withdrawing that remark and that it should be removed from the House records." He expressed, "In this matter, I apologise to the minister and the House. I should not have said that. It was a mistake on my part."

Following his apology, Speaker A N Shamseer commended the gesture, remarking that it is a practice worth emulating. "Correcting words used due to a sudden provocation need not be seen as a defeat," Shamseer added. Satheesan pointed out that his heated response was triggered by the minister's comment regarding an alleged praiseworthy speech Satheesan gave about the government at an Onam market event in Paravoor. "I had asked that event to be cancelled as I arrived late there. But when the organisers asked me to speak, I did speak for a minute. I forgot that I had done so."

He further clarified, "But I never praised the government in my speech and only spoke about the importance of the SupplyCo." Satheesan, who has been a member of the assembly for 24 years, emphasized that, to date, none of his words have ever been expunged from the assembly records by any Speaker. "But I felt that these words of mine should not remain on the records in order to create disappointment for future generations of legislators," he explained. Satheesan's controversial remarks were made during a discussion on the adjournment motion concerning the increase in the prices of essential commodities and the state's alleged inefficiencies in handling the situation.