March 26 marks one year since demise of Innocent, his Malayalam speeches in Parliament still doing rounds on internet

KOCHI: "In Delhi, our MP must be giving a thunderous performance. This is what the voters think. But, I don't even know the language. I don't know anything." This is the answer given by Innocent when he was asked about his experience in Parliament.

However, Innocent didn't sit idle in the Lok Sabha. He spoke in Malayalam. He often spoke with experiences from his illness. His videos are still doing rounds on social media.

Notable in this speech was the need for guidelines and measures for early detection of cancer in the country. He pointed out that in some foreign countries, cancer screening has been made mandatory for everyone over the age of 40. It was reminded that if cancer is detected in the beginning, the possibility of cure will increase and the cost of treatment will decrease. In Chalakudy constituency, Innocent gave the highest priority to provide modern facilities in government hospitals. He made funds available for mammogram and dialysis units.

Innocent says that there is no great work in Parliament. "On a day when there are no questions, I'll be tensed if there are locals in the visitors' gallery. I have to pretend that I'm doing something. So I'll wave my hand towards the chair. When the speaker says yes, I'll just scratch my head". Like in the movies, the Parliament was amused by the great actor's humour. "Why should we look at the food in other people's kitchens? Why not make our own kitchen better?" This is how Innocent concluded the query about strengthening the health sector. Innocent criticized hospitals set up by big business for targeting heart surgery and dialysis and imposing unnecessary treatments. He also demanded to bring control in this.

On his first day as an MP, what Innocent noticed most was the inconvenience in the Assembly Hall. He compared the crowded seating of the members to the seating of those who had bought bench tickets in the old movie theatres of the country. Innocent hoped that the old Parliament House would be heritage-listed and a new one would come. Ten years after that, the new Parliament complex became a reality.

Success in 2014

Innocent defeated PC Chacko in his first contest to Lok Sabha in 2014. He contested again as an LDF independent candidate in 2019 but lost to Benny Behanan.