Members of the Opposition forced adjournment of the Assembly proceedings for the second consecutive day on Wednesday raising the agitation of the Pengal Otrumai in Munnar and pressing for the resignation of Power Minister M.M. Mani for his alleged remarks about women.
V.D. Satheesan, who gave notice for an adjournment motion on the agitation, alleged that the police and CPI(M) workers were intimidating the protesters and asked Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan whether the government was scared of the protest launched by four women.
A number of cases have been foisted on them. The government lacked collective responsibility. The Chief Minister does not approve of the actions of Revenue Minister E.Chandrasekharan against encroachers. Mr.Satheesan asked whether Mr.Chandrasekharan was still a member of the Cabinet. He accused Mr.Mani of impeding the eviction drive with the consent of Mr.Vijayan.
Mr.Vijayan and Mr.Mani were on one side and Mr.Chandrasekharan and the CPI were pitted against them. This was proof that the government lacked collective responsibility, Mr. Satheesan said.
Mr.Vijayan in his reply said Mr.Mani had offered an explanation on the charges levelled against him and offered an unconditional apology for his comments, if it had hurt anyone.
The Opposition was unwilling to accept the manner in which the Minister apologised in public, Mr. Vijayan said.
Gomathy, who is leading the agitation, does not hold any leadership position of the women’s collective. The public have rejected the agitation conducted by four persons with the support of the Congress and the BJP and it could not mobilise local support. The government is not scared of the agitation, he said and clarified that the notice does not warrant a discussion.
Leader of the Opposition, Ramesh Chennithala said it was not the strength of the agitators but their cause was what that really mattered. Communists should not gauge an agitation on the basis of the number of participants. He pointed out that the CPI(M) organises agitations in other States and Delhi with skeletal strength. It may take a turn like the one in Nandigram, he said.
Based on the government explanation, Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan denied notice for the motion. The Opposition members then moved to the well of the House and disrupted the proceedings. Mr.Sreeramakrishnan completed the business in haste and adjourned the House for the day.
