New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party nominee C Sadanandan Master removed his prosthetic leg and put it on display on the table in the Rajya Sabha on Monday to make a point about political violence, sparking loud protests by CPM leaders who said displaying any item in the House violated rules.
MP C Sadanandan Master speaks in the Rajya Sabha during his maiden speech, his prosthetic limbs visible on the desk (via Parliament TV/PTI)Sadanandan Master, who opened the discussion on the motion of thanks to President Draupadi Murmu’s address to the joint session of Parliament, said he wanted to show the nation and the people what democracy is.
“Those who were roaring about democracy attacked me in Kerala 31 years ago. I was returning home when organized criminals grabbed me from behind, threw me on the road and cut off my leg, shouting Inquilab Zindabad,” Master said as he sat down because of his disability.
Master, a retired school teacher, was nominated to the Upper House in 2025. He unsuccessfully contested the 2016 and 2021 elections as a BJP candidate from Kuthuparambu Assembly constituency.
Master lost his leg in a fatal attack by CPI(M) allied workers in Kannur district on January 24, 1994, a few days before his wedding. It was learned at the time that the assailants hurled bombs in the area to scare the locals and dragged Sadanandan from the vehicle he was traveling in. He was pinned to the ground, and both his legs were amputated at the knees.
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The display of prostheses on the table immediately drew objections from opponents.
CPM leader John Brittas raised a point of order saying it was a violation of rules to show any object in the House.
“I want to show the nation and the people what democracy is. You always talk about democracy, tolerance and humanity. Your commitment is based on political violence, which is not good for democracy,” Master shot back, asking Brittas not to be intolerant.
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Chairman CP Radhakrishnan said he would direct the member to remove them but asked the opposition member to adopt the same procedure for all violations of rules (by the opposition) including display of placards.
In his speech, Sadanandan said the government had moved “from promises to deliveries”.
He said, “Today every penny spent by the government belongs to the citizen.
