THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala assembly on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution demanding the immediate repeal of the three central farm laws that have triggered a marathon agitation by farmers. The lone BJP member in the 140-member House, O Rajagopal, defended the agri-marketing laws during the debate but did not oppose the resolution.
"I openly expressed my differences of opinion about the resolution during the discussion, but did not oppose it since popular sentiment in the House was to pass it unanimously. I stood with the democratic spirit and general consensus," Rajagopal said.
He backtracked later, issuing a statement in which he denied supporting the resolution. The speaker did not ask the members if they opposed the resolution and that was why he remained silent then, the BJP legislator said.
Moving the resolution during the special session that governor Arif Mohammad Khan gave his assent to after much coaxing, CM Pinarayi Vijayan said Kerala would be the worst-hit state if the agitation continued. This is because unlike other states, Kerala imports its grain.