MLA V Sivankutty suspended

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Unruly scenes prevailed in the Assembly on Tuesday over the bargate with some Opposition MLAs climbing the Speaker’s dais and shouting slogans demanding the resignation of Finance Minister K.M. Mani. 

CPM’s V. Sivankutty was suspended for the day and four other Opposition MLAs were censured. The proceedings were ended abruptly owing to the noisy scenes.

Those censured were Babu M. Palisserry, T.V. Rajesh, P. Sreeramakrishnan and R. Rajesh. Replying to a submission by Opposition Leader V. S. Achuthanandan on the matter, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said that the government had not  interfered in the bargate probe and that the probe was getting delayed owing to the lack of cooperation of witnesses with the quick verification. He also said that a Supreme Court order on the time limit of quick verification had said that it could go up to 45 days in exceptional cases.

The unruly scenes started as Deputy Speaker N. Sakthan, who was chairing the House, initiated further proceedings even as the Opposition Leader stood up to comment on the Home Minister’s reply

The Opposition MLAs trooped to the well and some of them rushed towards the Speaker’s dais. Defying Mr. Sakthan’s warning to initiate action against members climbing the dais, Mr Sivankutty and some other Opposition MLAs defied him.  Mr Sivankutty even pulled the Speaker’s mike and shouted slogans.

Mr. Sakthan immediately suspended the House and held a series of talks with the parliamentary party leaders of both sides.

While the House convened after about one-and-a-half hours, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said that Mr Sivankutty should be suspended from the House for the day and four other MLAs censured.

This was passed by the House, following which the Opposition members again trooped to the well  and shouted slogans against Mr. Mani. This forced the deputy speaker to rush through the remaining proceedings and adjourn the House for the day.

The Opposition Leader alleged that the probe was already sabotaged with the Chief Minister and Home Minister announcing in public that Mr Mani did not indulge in corruption.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition Mr Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said that had the government registered a case, the witnesses could have been summoned to give their statements.

Congress MLA P.C. Vishnunath had earlier raised objection against the submission on the bargate citing that since an adjournment motion on the matter was already considered by the House on Monday, another submission could not be allowed as per the rules of the House.

The deputy speaker, who admitted the contention, however, allowed the submission giving a special consideration for the Opposition Leader.