Budget ‘battle’: Five Opposition MLAs suspended

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Five Opposition MLAs were today suspended by the Speaker for vandalising Speaker’s podium and destroying his chairs, computer and mic. The suspension will be in effect till the current Assembly session ends on April 1. Amidst Opposition din, the resolution moved by the chief minister was passed on Monday.   

The speaker suspended MLAs V Sivankutty, E P Jayarajan, K T Jaleel, K Kunjahamad and K Ajith after his attempt to arrive at a compromise formula with the Opposition failed. He had held discussions with MLAs two times.  

During the zero hour in the morning, he made a special announcement and paused the Assembly proceedings for some time in order to hold talks with leaders from UDF and LDF constituents. The session was resumed after two hours. After this, the Chief Minister Oommen Chandy presented the resolution regarding the happenings in the Assembly on Friday.   

The chief minister said what happened in the Assembly on February 13 had brought shame to Kerala. Criticising Opposition MLA’s unruly protest in the Assembly, he said “Opposition protests had crossed all limits. UDF MLAs had not climbed onto the Speaker’s dais. It is not with joy but with pain I am asking for action against those MLAs. All the happenings were viewed all over the world. If the Opposition is ready, we can together examine the videos of the untoward happenings in the Assembly,” Chandy said.   

After this, the Opposition members came forward and said they were not going to accept the action against their MLAs. They demanded action against UDF MLAs who allegedly humiliated their women MLAs. After marching towards the centre space of the House, they created commotion. They said the action against their MLAs was the result of a unilateral decision and it was acceptable to them.

Achuthanandan said the chief minister here is one who didn’t have the capability to protect the women MLAs. He also criticised the UDF MLAs for distributing ladoos and kissing Mani. “ The Assembly didn’t function according to norms on that day. And, the speaker’s action is humiliating,” he added.

Following ruckus, the assembly proceedings were completed and the House was adjourned to be resumed on March 23.

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