Kerala culture and fisheries minister Saji Cherian resigned on Wednesday following widespread protests over his remarks denouncing the Constitution that ended up putting the Left Democratic Front government under pressure to act.

The resignation came after the CPM state secretariat met in Thiruvananthapuram and heard Cherian’s explanation over the remarks made at a meeting in Mallapally, Pathanamthitta district, where he said the Constitution was dictated by the British and it enabled plundering of commoners.

He announced his decision to resign at a news conference and said he had always adhered to the values of the Constitution and never disrespected it. Cherian claimed that he volunteered to step down since he didn’t want to put the CPM or the Left Democratic Front government under pressure.

“I understand that the chief minister has sought the legal opinion of the advocate general on my speech. I don’t know if he has received the advice. In such a situation, I have taken an independent decision. As part of that independent decision and after discussing with the chief minister, I know it is not right for me to continue as a minister. So, I am resigning from the cabinet. I have already submitted my resignation letter to the chief minister,” Cherian told the news conference.

He accused the Opposition parties of running a campaign by extracting a few portions of his hour-long speech.

“This campaign is being run by extracting a few portions of my hour-long speech. This is being done to weaken the CPM and the LDF government. As a responsible public worker, this campaign to target the LDF government and CPM has created immense sadness in me. I repeat, I had never intended to disrespect the Constitution,” he said.

A court in Tiruvalla in Pathanamthitta district on Wednesday ordered the police to register a case against Cherian based on a complaint filed by Kochi-based lawyer Biju Noel.

Cherian’s remarks against the Constitution had triggered widespread protests in the state and demands for his resignation.

“All of us say we have a beautiful Constitution. I would say that we have a Constitution that enables the plunder of commoners. Indians wrote down the Constitution as told by the British,” he had said at the party meeting.