Assembly: Opposition disrupts proceedings

Thiruvananthapuram: The Opposition disrupted the proceedings of Kerala Assembly for the second day today over alleged bribery charges against Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and ministers.

The Opposition moved into the well of the House and staged a dharna there, forcing the Speaker to rush through the day’s proceedings and adjourn the House.

The protest began after the Speaker N. Sakthan refused to take up a notice for moving an adjournment motion related to the bar bribery case given notice for by V. S. Sunil Kumar (CPI).  The Speaker said that the matter was sub judice and the rules of procedure did not permit discussion of a matter awaiting decision of a court of law.

As Opposition protests continued, the Speaker cancelled submissions and called K. Murleedharan to speak on his motion of thanks to the Governor for his address.  As Mr. Muraleedharan was speaking, the Opposition went round the table of Assembly reporters in the well of the House with a banner. Then they sat down in the well shouting slogans, and Sunil Kumar addressed them even as Mr. Muraleedharan continued his speech.

As the slogan shouting went on, the Speaker called others listed to speak on the motion of thanks.  However, none rose to speak and the Speaker adjourned the House for Wednesday.

Earlier, Mr. Muraleedharan said that the Oommen Chandy government was one that had carried out a number of projects ranging from progammes the poor to high tech development. Listing the government’s achievements, he highlighted the Karunya scheme, rice for the poor at Re. 1 a kg, Vizhinjam port, Smart City and Kochi Metro projects, Malayalam University and medical colleges in every district.

He said that the Opposition had disrupted proceedings in the House during 83 sittings. They had lost their skills for debating and knew only to shout slogans in the House. The UDF would be seeking votes against the murder and politics of violence of the Opposition.

He criticised Opposition Leader V. S. Achuthanandan for raising allegations against family members of the Chief Minister.

Mr. Sunil Kumar told the media outside the House that Speaker had allowed five adjournment motions in the last session of the Assembly relating to bribery allegations against then Finance Minister K. M. Mani. The government opposed debate when it came to allegations against Excise Minister K. Babu.