Thiruvananthapuram: Speaker A N Shamseer on Monday issued a clarification regarding the alleged attack on Health Minister Veena George, stating that he never claimed that she was injured by a weapon.
Shamseer said the minister sustained injuries and appeared physically weak at the time but denied making any statement attributing the injuries to a weapon. "I have never said anywhere that the injuries were caused by a weapon. When I saw her, she was unwell," he said.
Explaining his actions during the incident, the speaker noted that he could not have proceeded with his travel plans while a fellow legislator was in distress. "When a member was sitting on the platform in a weakened condition, I could not board the Vande Bharat train and leave. She needed to be taken to the hospital, and arrangements were made accordingly," he added.
Shamseer also questioned why women members of the Kerala Students Union (KSU) did not stage protests over the incident involving a woman minister. He reiterated that protest is a democratic right, but participants must also be prepared to face legal consequences, including imprisonment.
Reflecting on his tenure, Shamseer said Assembly Day celebrations observed on Monday marked his final public engagement as speaker after serving for more than three-and-a-half years. He highlighted key initiatives undertaken during his term, including legislative reforms, opening the assembly and its library to the public, and organizing book festivals. He further emphasized that both ruling and opposition members must ensure their presence and active participation in the House, particularly newly elected MLAs.
"Serving as speaker has been a matter of great pride. I have fulfilled the responsibility entrusted to me by the party and the people," he said, adding that he would remain active in politics and expressed confidence in the continuation of the current government.
Meanwhile, senior Congress leader K Muraleedharan criticized Shamseer's remarks, accusing him of changing his stance after the elections. "At that time, Shamseer said it was a weapon attack. Now he is saying otherwise. Earlier there were only newspapers, but now there are television channels everywhere," Muraleedharan told reporters. He also objected to Shamseer's earlier allegation that Congress workers were behind the attack, stating that such remarks were inappropriate for someone holding the speaker's position. Muraleedharan further took a dig at what he described as excessive public relations exercises by political leaders, adding that such efforts should remain within limits.
