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House session draws to a noisy close

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The 13-day session of the Kerala Assembly drew to a noisy close barely half-an-hour into the zero hour on Monday amidst Opposition sloganeering from the well of the House seeking resignation of Forest Minister Benoy Viswom in connection with the Ponmudi land deal. The five United Democratic Front (UDF) legislators on fast before the Assembly hall since Monday called off the fast following the adjournment of the session. The UDF leadership has vowed to carry on the struggle outside the House.

The Opposition began their noisy protest inside the House immediately on commencement of the question hour following denial of permission to Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy to speak about the UDF legislators’ fast. The Opposition members soon moved into the well of the House and squatted on the floor forcing suspension of the question hour. They sat there till resumption of the proceedings at 9.30 a.m.

On resumption, they returned to the seats and joined Speaker K. Radhakrishnan and other members in offering tributes to past members and veteran leaders T.O. Bava and N.N. Pandarathil who had died during the inter-session period. The observance of silence over, Mr. Chandy was once again on his feet and drew the attention of the Chair to the continuing fast by the five UDF MLAs. He reiterated the demand for an inquiry into the land deal. However, he could not proceed further and this resulted in further noisy protests from the Opposition members, who soon moved into the well again and began raising slogans.

Amid the sloganeering, the Speaker moved on to the other business listed for the day. The House referred the Small Plantation Workers’ Welfare Fund Bill to the Subject Committee and adopted the Cochin University of Science and Technology (Amendment) Bill and the Kerala Professional Colleges or Institutions (Prohibition of Capitation Fee, Regulation of Admission, Fixation of Non-Exploitative Fee and Other Measures to Ensure Equity and Excellence in Professional Education) Amendment Bill amid the commotion.

Even as the Opposition members raised slogans, the Chief Minister informed the House, through a special statement, that the Government had decided to constitute a high-level committee to give suggestions on implementation of the Sachar Committee recommendations and Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Vijayakumar announced the constitution of a 21-member Select Committee on the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Bill.

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