THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The opposition, which had been staging protests in and out of the assembly seeking an apology from MM Mani over his offensive remarks against KK Rema, peacefully participated in Assembly proceedings on Monday. The opposition seemed to have realized that some adaptations are necessary in the Assembly, as the protest on Friday did not help.

The opposition MLAs chose the path of 'non-violent struggle' on Monday. They participated in the assembly proceedings by placing placards against Mani's remarks on the desk. Opposition leader V D Satheesan demanded the intervention of the speaker as Mani was not ready to withdraw his controversial remarks against Rema in the assembly. "The remarks should be removed from the house records. This is not Kaurava Assembly. Don’t make it one. All should remember that this is the Kerala Assembly”, said Satheesan. The issue partially subsided when the deputy speaker, who was in the chair, said that he will look into the demand to remove the controversial remarks from the house records.

Uma Thomas raised the issue once again during the discussion on the fund requests by agriculture, irrigation and water supply. "Although the words 'Mahathi' (great woman), 'widow' and 'fate' are not unparliamentary, one great man uttered a sentence by linking these words. He also used special body language while uttering these words. This action was wrong. zit wasn't fate. Wasn't TP Chandrasekaran murdered with the connivance of the then party secretary, sir?" Uma Thomas said. Following this, CPM MLAs V Joy and AN Shamseer lashed out at Uma Thomas. Shamseer, who demanded that Uma's statement against the Chief Minister should be removed from records, advised Uma that the Legislative Assembly was not a forum where one should say anything out of passion while giving a speech.

U Prathibha, who was feeling the pain of martyrdom of Dheeraj and others, was in a philosophical mood. She tried to convince Uma Thomas that they were not celebrating any death.