Kerala assembly adjourned over Achuthandan's remarks

Thiruvanthapuram, Feb 9: The Kerala assembly was adjourned for the day on Tuesday following some remarks made by leader of opposition V.S. Achuthandan about the family members of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy with regard to the ‘solar scam’. The senior CPI-M leader made the remarks, leading to protests from the treasury benches, after Speaker N. Sakthan disallowed an adjournment motion moved by Kodiyeri Balakrishn, another legislator from CPI-M, to discuss the latest revelations in the scam. Trouble started after Achuthandan linked Saritha ir, the second accused in the solar scam, with the family members of Chandy. The ensuing altercation between the treasury benches and the opposition then prompted Sakthan to stop the proceedings for a while.

During this interval, the leaders of the rival fronts discussed the issue with each other but could not come to a consensus, Sakthan said upon the resumption of the proceedings. Later Achuthandan got up and completed his speech and demanded that time be allowed for the adjournment motion. When the speaker disallowed it, the entire opposition members trooped to the well of the house, forcing the speaker to wind up the day’s proceedings.

Earlier, Balakrishn said that Chandy has misled the assembly by saying something in the assembly and the opposite of that in his deposition before the solar scam probe commission. “Even after a court asked a case to be registered against Chandy and his cabinet colleague Aryadan Mohammed for accepting bribe... this government is surviving on stays being obtained from the courts. He has to step down in the wake of the serious allegations that have now surfaced,” said Balakrishn. Chandy said that it’s most unfortute that things have touched such a low on the floor of the house. (IANS)