Thiruvananthapuram: A heated exchange broke out in the assembly on Tuesday after opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan accused the ruling front of exposing its own lack of confidence in fisheries minister V E Abdul Gafoor while he was replying to an adjournment motion notice on the plight of fishermen during trawling ban.The adjournment motion notice was moved by CPM MLA Saji Cherian, who alleged that the govt was ignoring the hardships faced by the fishing community, particularly during the annual trawling ban, and sought immediate intervention.Replying to the motion, Gafoor said the govt had already disbursed the first instalment of financial assistance to eligible fishermen. He said Rs 1,500 wascredited as first instalment of the Rs 4,500 assistance payable during the trawling ban period. The minister said the total assistance comprises Rs 1,500 contributed by beneficiaries, Rs 1,500 as state’s share and Rs 1,500 as Centre’s share. He added that even if there was a delay in receiving Centre’s share, the state govt would ensure that the beneficiaries were not affected by bearing the amount itself.While Gafoor was replying, CM V D Satheesan and forest minister Shibu Baby John intervened with additional explanations. Referring to these interventions, Vijayan remarked that the ruling front itself had spoken in a manner that suggested it did not have confidence in its own minister’s ability to answer the issue.“The ruling side itself intervened in a way that showed it believed its own minister lacked the ability to respond,” Vijayan said, triggering a sharp war of words between the treasury and opposition benches.Responding to the charge, Satheesan said there was nothing unusual about ministers supplementing one another’s replies in the House. He said assembly records from the previous Pinarayi govt would show that it was common for two or three ministers to intervene while another minister was speaking. Referring to Vijayan’s remarks against Gafoor, Satheesan said the opposition leader should either withdraw the statement or the speaker should ensure that the remarks were expunged from the assembly records.Satheesan also rejected the opposition’s allegations over the delay in disbursing assistance, terming them baseless. He said the instalment that was immediately due was already released to the districts and only its distribution to beneficiaries remained. The next instalment would be released when it would be due and it too would be disbursed in time. No eligible beneficiary would suffer because of any lapse on the part of the govt, he said.The CM also said that although the govt reduced the Plan size for 2026-27 in the revised budget, it did not reduce allocations for the scheduled castes development, scheduled tribes development and fisheries departments.The exchange led to heated arguments between the treasury and opposition benches before the speaker intervened to restore order and later dismiss the notice based on the govt’s explanation. Unconvinced by the govt’s reply, the opposition staged a walkout.
