Indefinite stir against Health Minister K K Shylaja

Kochi: Five UDF MLAs began an indefinite sit-in in front of the state Assembly on Monday demanding the resignation of Health Minister K.K. Shylaja  in view of the High Court's adverse remarks pertaining to the appointment of a member of the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights. The   MLAs are Eldhose P. Kunnappillil, Roji M. John and V. P. Sajeendran (Cong)  and  N. Samsudheen and T. V.  Ibrahim(IUML).  

The Assembly witnessed unruly scenes with the Opposition MLAs even tearing the copies of the Kerala Medical Education (Regulation and Control of Admission to Private Medical Education Institutions) Bill and flinging it in the hall. The House was also suspended for nearly an hour. During zero-hour, the Opposition moved an  adjournment notice  demanding the resignation of the minister. After Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan defended the minister, speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan refused permission for  the motion.   Subsequently,  the Opposition marched to the well of the House shouting slogans demanding  Ms Shylaja’s  resignation. As the noisy scenes continued, the  speaker suspended the House and held talks with Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala.

Later,  the House was convened again and the speaker informed that the Opposition had agreed to cooperate  as some important bills were scheduled to be considered. But Mr Chennithala  said that the Opposition would not cooperate if Ms Shylaja presents the Medical Education Bill. He also suggested that instead,  the law minister or any other minister may present the Bill. But later,  the speaker invited the health minister to present the Bill and this provoked the Opposition. Even as the Opposition MLAs trooped to the well shouting slogans, the minister went ahead with the Bill presentation. Subsequently,  the Opposition Leader announced an indefinite fast by the  MLAs who marched out of the House tearing the copies of the Bill into  pieces. The current session of the House is scheduled to end on Thursday.