Thiruanathapuram : Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan on Wednesday denied attacking the watch-and-ward-staff during uproar in the state legislative assembly over the case of alleged theft of Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple gold.

Referring to the Chief Minister's statement in the assembly, he called the remarks completely false and misleading. He further affirmed that the opposition parties will continue their protest over the Sabarimala gold controversy throughout the ongoing state assembly session.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had lashed out at the Opposition for attempting to "deliberately attempting to create trouble" in the Legislative Assembly and urged the House to condemn the "antics."

"We are continuing our protest related to the Sabarimala gold smuggling issue. Yesterday in the House, the Chief Minister made a completely false and misleading statement. He claimed that we attacked the watch-and-ward staff with sticks, this is untrue, and he must withdraw it. He even said there was violence. Everyone knows who actually created that scene; those responsible are sitting right there. We did not engage in any such act. Holding banners in protest is not new in the Assembly. Even the Speaker himself said that there was no issue serious enough to require a meeting in his chamber," said VD Satheesan.

He further accused members of the ruling LDF of allegedly attacking prominent Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, asserting that ministers insulting an MP from Kerala is unacceptable.

"There was no violence or aggressive behaviour from our side. We protested, and we made every effort not to cooperate with the proceedings. But during Question Hour, whenever ministers got the mic, they attacked Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi. Those remarks remain in the Assembly records even now. Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi are our respected leaders, one of them is even an MP from Kerala. Ministers insulting an MP from Kerala is unacceptable. We cannot agree with such conduct, we will not cooperate with the Assembly proceedings," added VD Satheesan.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister M.B. Rajesh condemned the incident, calling V.D. Satheesan a leader of double standards.

"The whole world saw what happened here. The photograph of the member who jumped onto the front row is in today's newspapers. If that member had gone to a high jump competition after proper training, the country would have benefited more. Two members jumped from the front. The Chief Minister said one of them is a lawyer. So was that a legally valid jump? The Leader of the Opposition always lectures us about parliamentary conduct. He has 25 years of parliamentary experience. Yet he justified everything that happened yesterday, and now again he is doing the same. Let the whole world see this. This is double standards. He is the leader of those double standards," said Rajesh.

During a heated exchange, V. Sivankutty said that the Pinarayi government would return to power for a third term, but also made it clear that there was no need to issue threats against them. He remarked that unnecessary intimidation was not required.