Kerala budget was presented by Finance Minister Thomas Issac.
Kerala assembly today witnessed uproarious scenes during budget presentation with Congress-led opposition staging a walk out alleging leakage of the document in the social media.
The budget, presented by Finance Minister Thomas Issac, focused on infrastructure development, strengthening of social welfare measures, steps to enhance safety of women, giving impetus to public education and health. It is the second budget by the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF after it came to power last year.
Trouble started as the nearly three-hour-long budget presentation reached its final stages, when Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala stood up and waved a set of papers alleging that the budget proposal was already available in social media even before being presented.
Taken aback by the sudden development Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said budget details have not been leaked. But he assured the Opposition that their charge would be looked into.
"When budget is being presented, what has already been tabled, it might have come in the social media and other media. We will examine what has happened", he said.
Intervening on the matter, Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan said, "It is serious issue and we will look into it and make statement in the House later".
Cutting short the presentation due to opposition sloganeering, Finance Minister Mr Issac said "I have not seen what has come in the social media. I cannot give a reply without knowing what has happened".
Seizing of the matter, Mr Chennithala said the budget has been "leaked and its sanctity lost".
He also alleged that the papers have been leaked from Finance Minister's office itself as "he is very active in social media."
UDF Opposition members, Kerala Congress(M) led by former Finance Minister KM Mani and lone BJP member O Rajagopal walked out of the House in protest against the alleged leak.