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The Opposition, led by the Congress, has been demanding the resignation of Devaswom Minister VN Vasavan, holding him responsible for the missing gold.
Uproar in Kerala Assembly. (Image: PTI)
The Kerala Legislative Assembly has been in turmoil since October 6, as the Opposition continues its protest over the alleged missing gold from the Sabarimala temple. The uproar reached peak on Thursday when three Congress MLAs — Roji M John, M Vincent, and Saneshkumar Joseph — were suspended from the Assembly for repeatedly disrupting proceedings.
The Opposition, led by the Congress, has been demanding the resignation of Devaswom Minister VN Vasavan, holding him responsible for the missing gold. From the start of the session each day, Opposition members have stormed into the well of the House, raising slogans and displaying banners and placards. For two consecutive days, Speaker AN Shamseer was forced to suspend the Question Hour and adjourn proceedings amid the chaos.
Despite repeated warnings, the Opposition refused to relent. On Friday too, the protests continued, leading to heated scuffles between the protesting MLAs and the Assembly’s watch and ward staff. Parliamentary Affairs Minister MB Rajesh later moved a resolution to suspend the three Congress legislators, citing continuous disruption and violation of Assembly etiquette.
In the resolution, Rajesh stated that Opposition members were attempting to create “an atmosphere of terror” inside the House and that the Chief Marshal was injured during the altercation, suffering a hand injury that would require surgery. He added that the watch and ward staff had only tried to prevent Opposition MLAs from advancing toward the Speaker’s dais.
Reacting to their suspension, Angamaly MLA Roji M John said the action would not deter them. “A group of thieves are ruling Kerala right now. Unfortunately, they have not spared even Sabarimala. When gold was stolen from the temple, as a responsible Opposition, we raised the voice of the common people,” he said.
Roji maintained that the protest was democratic, involving only slogans and placards, and accused the Speaker of directing the watch and ward to act against the Opposition. “The government and the Speaker are hand in glove, trying to divert attention. But we will continue our fight,” he asserted, adding that such punitive actions only validate their struggle.
Neethu Reghukumar, Principal Correspondent at CNN-News18, has 12 years of experience in both print and broadcast journalism. She covers politics, crime, health in Kerala, and has extensively reported on floods …Read More
Neethu Reghukumar, Principal Correspondent at CNN-News18, has 12 years of experience in both print and broadcast journalism. She covers politics, crime, health in Kerala, and has extensively reported on floods … Read More
Thiruvananthapuram, India, India
October 10, 2025, 08:06 IST
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