Opposition disrupts Kerala Assembly over Speaker’s refusal to consider adjournment notice on death threat to Rahul Gandhi

The proceedings of the Kerala Assembly were disrupted on Tuesday following strong protests from the Opposition Congress-led UDF over Speaker AN Shamseer’s refusal to consider its adjournment notice to discuss the death threat issued against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi by a BJP leader.

Congress leader Sunny Joseph submitted the notice for the adjournment motion, demanding a discussion on the matter after halting other businesses.

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However, the Speaker denied permission for the motion, stating that the issue was neither urgent nor important enough to warrant an adjournment motion. He ruled that the UDF’s notice under Rule 50 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Assembly singularly lacked the gravity or urgency warranting an adjournment debate. He said that remarks made by someone during a television debate could not be raised in the House. The Speaker suggested it could be brought up as a submission instead of an adjournment motion.

Opposition Leader V D Satheesan questioned the Speaker’s statement, asking how the remarks of a BJP leader during a television debate—that bullets would be fired at the Opposition Leader of the Lok Sabha—could be considered trivial. He insisted the matter deserved to be raised in the House.

Annoyed at the Speaker’s remarks, the UDF members erupted in protest, raising slogans and hoisting a banner under the Speaker’s dais. They tried to move towards the Speaker’s podium. The watch-and-ward personnel prevented them from proceeding further.

Ignoring the protest, the Speaker proceeded with other matters. With protests intensifying, Speaker Shamseer adjourned the House for the day.

The Kerala police on Monday registered a case against BJP leader Printu Mahadevan for his alleged remark during a television debate that bullets would be fired at Rahul Gandhi, the Opposition Leader in the Lok Sabha. The Peramangalam police registered the case against Printu Mahadev under the sections relating to murderous speech, incitement to riots, and spreading hatred in society. The case was filed based on complaints by Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) secretary Sreekumar C C and KSU district president Gokul Guruvayur.

Printu Mahadevan, a former ABVP leader, made the remark while discussing protests in Bangladesh and Nepal during a debate on a Malayalam news channel on September 26. He reportedly said such protests were not possible in India as people here stood strongly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He added, “If Rahul Gandhi has any such desires, bullets will be shot into his chest.”

“In India, the people are with the Narendra Modi government. So if Rahul Gandhi comes out with such a desire to create unrest similar to what was seen in Bangladesh or Nepal, he will be shot in the chest. There is no doubt about it,” Printu Mahadev reportedly said during the television debate.