Rajya Sabha Witnesses Emotional Protest as BJP Member Recalls 1994 Attack
The Rajya Sabha proceedings on Monday took an intensely emotional turn when nominated member C Sadanandan Master, during his maiden speech, placed his artificial limbs on the parliamentary table. This powerful gesture was aimed directly at the CPI(M), which he held responsible for a brutal attack in 1994 that resulted in the loss of both his legs.
A Dramatic Display During Motion of Thanks Discussion
While initiating the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address, Sadanandan Master's placement of his artificial limbs on the table created immediate uproar in the House. CPI(M) MP John Brittas objected to the display, citing parliamentary rules and past rulings regarding the exhibition of objects during proceedings.
Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan intervened, requesting that the artificial limbs be removed from the table. In a pointed remark, the Chairman urged Brittas to "follow the same strictness when someone is showing placards", highlighting what some observers saw as selective enforcement of parliamentary decorum.
Recounting the 1994 Assault
Sadanandan Master, a retired schoolteacher who currently serves as vice-president of the BJP's Kerala unit, proceeded to recount the traumatic events of 1994 in vivid detail. "Those who are talking about democracy, they committed an attack on me 31 years ago," he stated emotionally.
He described how he was returning from his uncle's house after discussing his sister's marriage arrangements when the attack occurred. "In a bazaar, criminals caught me after I got down from a bus and cut off my two legs, and they shouted Inquilab Zindabad," he recalled, explaining that this experience motivated his dramatic parliamentary protest to show members "what democracy is."
At the time of the assault, Sadanandan Master was serving as the RSS saha karyavah in Kannur district. His decision to join the Sangh reportedly provoked the local CPI(M) and made him a target of political violence.
Political Accusations and Parliamentary Aftermath
Directly addressing CPI(M) members in the House, Sadanandan Master declared, "You are always talking about tolerance, humanity, but your commitment is based on political violence, which is not good for democracy." He concluded his speech with a poignant statement: "I regret I could not stand while making my maiden speech due to torture by CPI-M."
Amid protests from CPI(M) MPs, Brittas raised a point of order, leading to the artificial limbs being taken down and placed below Sadanandan Master's desk. Following the speech, Brittas told Chairman Radhakrishnan, "You have banned the display of objects. He 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."
Legal Context and Historical Background
The 1994 attack has remained a contentious issue in Kerala politics for decades. In August last year, eight CPI(M) workers who were convicted and sentenced to seven years' imprisonment in 1997 surrendered before a court in Kannur. This followed the High Court's rejection of their appeal against the conviction, bringing renewed attention to the decades-old case.
The incident highlights the deep political divisions and history of violence in certain regions of Kerala, particularly involving clashes between the RSS-BJP combine and the CPI(M). Sadanandan Master's parliamentary protest serves as a stark reminder of how personal trauma from political violence can resurface in national legislative forums decades later.
This dramatic episode in the Rajya Sabha underscores the complex interplay between personal history, political symbolism, and parliamentary procedure in India's democratic institutions.
