Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Row over remark of Chief Minister

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Opposition United Democratic Front tried to raise the ‘derogatory’ remark made by Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan about his visit to slain Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan’s home in Bangalore in the Assembly on Tuesday through an adjournment motion resulting in some noise.

Speaker K. Radhakrishnan deferred consideration of the adjournment motion, given notice by Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan (Congress), citing the absence of the Chief Minister from the House. He said the matter would be taken up on Wednesday.

Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan also pleaded for deferment of the motion pointing out that there were conflicting versions about what the Chief Minister had actually said. Postponement of the adjournment motion by a day was also not going to make much of a difference, he added.

Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy said Mr. Balakrishnan’s arguments only complicated matters further.

It showed that there was no communication between the Home Minister and the Chief Minister on the subject and suggested totally collapse collective responsibility in the Cabinet, he said.

Kerala Congress (M) leader K. M. Mani pointed out that the Chief Minister’s presence in the House was not necessary for taking up the adjournment motion.

That the government did not want to take up the issue in his absence only went to show that the Cabinet had lost collective responsibility, he said.

The Opposition members kept on demanding instant consideration of the adjournment motion, but resumed their seats when the Speaker remained firm in his decision.

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