The Kerala Assembly saw tense scenes and brief disruptions after Forest Minister Shibu Baby John made remarks while participating in the discussion on the demand for grants. The controversy began after the minister responded to criticism raised by the Opposition regarding his intervention during an earlier discussion on an adjournment motion.
The issue stemmed from Shibu Baby John's decision to intervene in the Fisheries Minister's speech with the latter's consent while the House was debating the adjournment motion. The intervention drew criticism from Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan, who questioned why the Forest Minister had to respond instead of the Fisheries Minister. The Chief Minister subsequently requested the Speaker to remove the Opposition leader's remarks from the Assembly records.
While replying to the discussion on the demand for grants, Shibu Baby John defended his actions by pointing out that similar interventions by ministers had taken place during the tenure of the previous government. He referred to past instances where ministers had spoken during another minister's address, arguing that such interventions were not unprecedented in the Assembly.
The minister also addressed the criticism directed at him since assuming office, stating that he had been subjected to personal attacks by leaders from the opposition camp but had refrained from responding to those remarks. His comments, however, triggered strong objections from opposition members, who disputed his claims and accused him of making politically motivated statements within the Assembly.
Senior opposition leaders protested against the minister's observations, maintaining that the House should not be used as a platform for political allegations. They asserted that the minister's remarks deviated from established parliamentary conventions and expressed concern over the nature of the debate. As tensions escalated, the Opposition announced a boycott of the proceedings in protest against the minister's statements, leading to further disruption in the House.
Despite the political confrontation, Shibu Baby John continued his speech by focusing on issues related to wildlife attacks in the state. He alleged that shortcomings during the previous government's tenure had contributed to the worsening of the human-wildlife conflict in several regions of Kerala. The minister outlined the current government's plans to strengthen support for victims of wildlife attacks through an insurance-based compensation mechanism. The proposed scheme is intended to provide quicker and more structured financial assistance to individuals and families affected by such incidents, forming part of the government's broader efforts to address the growing challenge of human-wildlife conflict across the state.
