THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala minister Saji Cheriyan, facing protests for his anti-Constitution remarks, resigned on Wednesday.
He had ridiculed the Constitution and said it condoned exploitation of workers, triggering condemnation and demands for his resignation.
Minister Cheriyan's controversial remarks against the Constitution rocked the state assembly on Wednesday with the agitating opposition UDF forcing an adjournment for the day while the ruling CPI(M) held parleys at various levels on the issue.
Inaugurating the 100th episode of a Facebook live programme on "political developments of the week" organised by Mallappally CPM area committee on Sunday evening, Cheriyan alleged that the Constitution was "compiled by the British" and it was written as such by an Indian and implemented in the country for the last 75 years.
"Values like secularism and democracy have been inscribed on its sides but it condones exploitation," he said.
"We all say that we have a beautifully written Constitution in India...the most significant aspect of the country. But, I will say, a beautiful Constitution, which can serve to loot the number of people, was written in the country," he said.
Stating India is a country which does not accept workers' protests, he said "Indian Constitution is one which condones the (labour) exploitation the most," and claimed this was the reason certain "millionaires" in the corporate sector have grown in the country.
Though the Congress-led UDF came prepared to take up the matter as an adjournment motion in the Assembly and raised slogans against Cheriyan charging him with 'humiliating' the Constitution and its architects, speaker M B Rajesh suddenly announced that the House was adjourned for the day.
Terming the speaker's action as "unprecedented", the opposition leaders later met him at his office and conveyed their displeasure over his sudden decision for the early adjournment and alleged that the government and the ruling front were trying to avoid their questions.
