Kerala Minister Says Constitution Enables Looting People; Opposition Demands Sacking

Saji Cheriyan later expressed regret and claimed news reports in this connection were ‘distorted.’

New Delhi: Kerala minister Saji Cheriyan was lambasted by opposition parties on Tuesday for saying the Indian constitution “condones exploitation” and is written in a way to help the “plunder” of the people of the country.

Even as opposition parties demanded his sacking, the CPI(M) leader later expressed regret and claimed news reports in this connection were ‘distorted.’

The Congress described the remarks by the fisheries and cultural affairs minister Cheriyan as ‘obnoxious’, while the BJP said he cannot hold an office enabled by the constitution he has disrespected and lashed out at the CPI(M) over the controversy.

According to news agency PTI, Cheriyan, in the recent speech, had alleged that the constitution of the country 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”, the kuntham and kodachakram (spear and wheel) were just inscribed on the constitution’s sides, he had 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 most number of people, was written in the country,” he said.

He said the country does not accept workers’ protests and that the “Indian Constitution is one which condones the (labour) exploitation the most”. This, he claimed, was the reason why “millionaires” have emerged in the corporate sector in the country.

In a statement given in the state assembly on Tuesday afternoon, Cheriyan said news reports claiming he had criticised the constitution at an event held at Mallappally in Pathanamthitta district were “distorted”.

“I am a public servant who respects our constitution and upholds its noble values…. I have never once intended to insult the constitution or say anything against it,” he said.

He said that the directives of the constitution need to be strengthened to ensure justice for the exploited masses of the country. The minister said he, in his own style, had tried to “express his concern” that if this is not done, the constitution would be powerless to defend the growing inequalities.

“The constitutional values like secularism, democracy and federal structure are facing severe challenges in the present time,” he said, adding that the imposition of labour codes in the country by cancelling all the existing legal provisions for the workers to obtain their rights would lead to gross exploitation.

The minister said it was his duty as a public servant to point out the denial of social justice to the vast majority of people in the country even 75 years after independence.

He also expressed “deep grief” and “regret” if his statements were propagated with wrong interpretations.

Opposition demands sacking

Cheriyan’s remarks were criticised by the Congress and the BJP. Both parties on Tuesday demanded that the minister be sacked immediately.

“He has not only insulted the constitution on which he took an oath but also Baba Saheb Ambedkar and the ideals of India. He must resign or be removed instantly,” said Congress general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal.

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said on Twitter that Cheriyan, who made the most “obnoxious remarks” on the constitution, should be sacked immediately.

KPCC president K. Sudhakaran and the leader of opposition in the state assembly V.D. Satheesan urged chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan to remove Cheriyan from the cabinet or face stringent legal action.

Union minister V. Muraleedharan, a BJP leader from Kerala, said CPI(M) leaders such as Sitaram Yechury describe the constitution as a template of Indian nationalism but choose to ignore this deliberate attempt to disregard it.

The saffron party’s Kerala chief K. Surendran also sought the immediate removal of Cheriyan and said he has no moral right to continue in the position.

However, CPI(M) politburo member M.A. Baby said Cheriyan’s remarks would have been “a slip of the tongue”. He said an explanation was sought from the minister, who is also a member of the party’s Kerala state secretariat, and he has explained that he did not criticise the constitution.

Saying that the minister’s remarks might have been misinterpreted, Baby, talking to Malayalam media persons in New Delhi, said there was no need to ask for his resignation on the basis of those comments.

(With PTI inputs)