Stormy scenes in Kerala Assembly as Finance Minister KM Mani presents budget

In scenes that have never before been seen playing out in the Kerala state assembly, opposition lawmakers broke chairs and shouted slogans as they protested Finance Minister KM Mani’s presentation of the state budget.

A heavy contingent of police force was seen guarding the ruling lawmakers in television visuals. The finance minister however spoke a few words and thus technically presented the budget. A couple of lawmakers even fainted and were led out of the state Assembly on wheel chairs.

Trivandrum: Aerial view of opposition’s protest against Kerala FM KM Mani, outside State Assembly via Drone cam pic.twitter.com/iBDig7txU0

— ANI (@ANI_news) March 13, 2015

Trivandrum: BJP protest against Kerala Finance Minister KM Mani, outside Kerala Assembly pic.twitter.com/bJ791RLyEo

— ANI (@ANI_news) March 13, 2015

The CPM-led opposition is firm that it would not let KM Mani present his record 13th Budget, pointing to the recent bribery allegations raised against the Minister by some of the state’s prominent bar-owners relating to the new liquor policy. Hundreds of LDF and BJP’s Yuva Morcha workers have laid siege to the Assembly complex, where around 2,000 policemen have been deployed to tackle the situation.

Live updates

9:38 am: Television visuals showed police using tear gas and water cannons on opposition protesters outside the Kerala state Assembly building.

Source:: Indian Express