Turmoil and outrage seemed to reign over the Legislative Assembly on Monday as Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) Opposition legislators staged a raucous protest against the recent "CPI(M)-sponsored SFI attack" on the regional office of Rahul Gandhi, MP, in Wayanad.
As soon as Speaker M. B. Rajesh stepped up to the rostrum, Opposition MLAs carrying banners denouncing the attack trooped onto the well of the House. They chanted slogans blaming Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for the widely condemned wanton violence in Wayanad and alleged that he had orchestrated the attack to divert public attention from the diplomatic channel gold smuggling scandal plaguing the administration.
Notably, at least six Opposition legislators sported dark shirts. Of late, black has emerged as a symbol of UDF protest against the government after the police allegedly stopped persons wearing dark-coloured COVID-19 face masks from attending Mr. Vijayan's public functions. Mr. Rajesh's repeated warning that signs and banners were not allowed in the House seemed to fall on deaf ears.
