New Delhi: There was high-drama at the Rajya Sabha on Monday after nominated member C Sadanandan Master placed his artificial limbs on the table during his maiden speech, hitting out at the CPI(M) for the 1994 brutal attack,, in which he lost his legs.
Master’s artificial limbs were placed on the table while initiating the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address, triggering an uproar with CPI(M) MP John Brittas objecting to it citing a past ruling, as reported by The Indian Express.
Vice President and Rajya Sabha chairman C P Radhakrishnan urged the artificial limbs be removed from the table and urged Brittas to “follow the same strictness when someone is showing placards”.
Master is a retired school teacher, who is also the vice-president of BJP’s Kerala unit. He went on to recount the attack on him, which he claimed were done by CPI(M) workers.
“Those who are talking about democracy, they committed an attack on me 31 years ago… I was on my way back from my uncle’s house after discussing my sister’s marriage. In a bazaar, criminals caught me after I got down from a bus and cut off my two legs, and they shouted Inquilab Zindabad, which is why I wanted to show members of the House what democracy is,” he said.
He was serving as the RSS saha karyavah in Kannur district at the time of the attack. His decision to join the Sangh allegedly provoked the local CPI(M) and placed him in its crosshairs.
“You are always talking about tolerance, humanity, but your commitment is based on political violence, which is not good for democracy,” he said in the House, targeting the CPI(M).
“I regret I could not stand while making my maiden speech due to torture by CPI-M.,” he concluded.
Eight CPI(M) workers, who were convicted and sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment in 1997 in connection with the attack, surrendered before a court in Kannur in August last year after the HC rejected their appeal against the conviction.
In RS, amid protests from CPI(M) MPs, Brittas raised a point of order and artificial limbs were taken down and placed below Sadanandan’s desk. After his speech, Brittas told Radhakrishnan,
“You (Chairman) have banned the display of objects. He (Master) has been coming to the House for so many days, walking with artificial limbs. It is unfortunate that he lost them. Somebody who sits beside him is a lawyer….displays it on the table.”
