CPI-M leader Saji Cherian, who resigned as minister over his alleged derogatory statement against the Constitution, was sworn in as a minister in the Pinarayi Vijayan Cabinet once again at a ceremony held at the Raj Bhavan here on Wednesday evening.
Governor Arif Mohammed Khan administered the oath office and secrecy to Saji Cherian. He took oath promising to “bear true faith and allegiance” to the very Constitution he had on 3 June last year allegedly denounced saying ‘is written in a way helping to “plunder” people of the nation.’
He was re-inducted into the cabinet six months after resigning as fisheries and culture minister following his alleged anti-constitutional speech during an event at Mallappally in Patahnamthitta. It was on 6 July that Saji Cherian resigned from the Pinayi Vijayan cabinet.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, ministers in his cabinet, LDF convener EP Jayarajan, Assembly Speaker AN Shamseer and some LDF leaders attended the function. The Opposition boycotted the function in protest against the re-induction of Saji Cherian in the cabinet.
Earlier in the morning, Congress organised a protest in front of the Raj Bhavan against the re-induction of Saji Cherian into the cabinet. Launching the protest, Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan said the situation remains the same as on the day Saji Cherian resigned.
“There is a case against him for abusing the Constitution at a lower court in Thiruvalla and in the High Court also and hence bringing him back into the cabinet without being cleared is disrespectful to the Constitution. We cannot accept this,” Satheesan said.
BJP leader Prakash Javedkar said that it is strange that a person who resigned for denouncing the Constitution has been brought back. “This clearly shows that the CPI-M has scant respect for the Constitution and time will not be far when Cherian will have to again resign,” Javedkar said.