The Kerala Assembly was adjourned for the day on Friday after the Opposition staged a protest over registration of cases against Opposition UDF legislators in connection with the scuffle that broke out between Opposition and watch and ward personnel and Left MLAs before the Speaker’s office at the Assembly complex on Wednesday.

Opposition legislators vociferously condemned the government for slapping non-bailable criminal charges against UDF members, including women MLAs, for their protest before the office of Speaker.

Advertisement

Soon after question hour began, Opposition Congress-led UDF members  staged protests raising  slogans and holding  placards for  registering  cases against UDF MLAs under non-bailable sections.

Opposition Leader V D Satheesan said the Speaker’s recurrent denial of the UDF’s rule 50 notices for adjournment debates on matters of pressing public importance warranted the protest. He also said that a fabricated case was registered against the MLAs to suppress the Opposition. When Satheesan’s mike was switched off, other MLAs trooped into the well of the House. As the commotion continued, Speaker A N Shamseer adjourned proceedings of the House  for the day, within nine minutes of the session beginning.

The police registered cases against Opposition and ruling party legislators and watch and ward personnel of the Assembly in connection with the incidents that took place on Wednesday before  the Speaker’s office at the Assembly complex.

While seven United Democratic Front (UDF) legislators were charged with non-bailable offences like rioting and barging into an office to cause hurt, two ruling party members were booked under bailable charges.

The UDF legislators disrupted the  Kerala Assembly proceedings  on Thursday to protest Wednesday’s manhandling of opposition members by ruling front MLAs and watch and ward personnel.

The Assembly had witnessed unprecedented scenes on Wednesday when opposition members marched to the office of the Speaker and entered into a scuffle with watch and ward personnel and ruling party members.

Meanwhile, reconciliation  move  has been initiated  from the government  side to cool the opposition protest in the assembly. As part of this, Parliamentary Affairs Minister K Radhakrishnan held a meeting with Opposition Leader VD Satheesan  On Friday.  There are reports that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan may hold talks with opposition leaders on the issue.