The Hindu : Opposition MLA goes on fast in House

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 26, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

Opposition MLA goes on fast in House

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM FEB. 25. The former SC,ST Development Minister, K. Radhakrishnan, began an indefinite fast before the Kerala Assembly hall today as the Opposition LDF upped the ante on its demand for a judicial inquiry into the police action on Adivasis at Muthanga in Wayanad district last Wednesday.

The CPI (M) Deputy Legislature Party leader, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, announced the fast plan after the Opposition failed yet again to raise the incidents through an adjournment motion in the Assembly this morning.

The entire Opposition was on its feet at the very beginning of zero hour when the Speaker, Vakkom Purushothaman, refused to even mention its notice for moving an adjournment motion.

As the Opposition clamour continued, the Speaker said though the Opposition might want to keep the Adivasi issue live, he could not be a party to it.

He told the Opposition members that they could have their say after zero hour. Later, the LDF MLAs walked out of the House and held the first-ever demonstration around the Assembly hall before returning to the House to take part in the proceedings.

Once the zero hour was over, Mr. Balakrishnan said the Opposition wanted a response from the Chief Minister to the demand for a judicial probe into the Muthanga incidents, an immediate end to police brutality towards Adivasis and early distribution of five acres of land to each landless Adivasi family.

Mr. Balakrishnan drew the attention of the House to the KPCC president, K. Muraleedharan's statement that the Government would be able to give only one acre land to each Aadivasi family.

This amounted to betrayal of the Adivasis who had been promised five acres. Both Mr. Muraleedharan's statement and the UDF liaison committee decision not to order a judicial probe into the incident deserved to be discussed by the House.

Mr. Balakrishnan alleged that the Government was reluctant to order a judicial probe only because the victims were Adivasis.

If the victims were the supporters of some political party or members of some powerful community, a judicial probe would have already been ordered, he said.Once he announced Mr. Radhakrishnan's fast plan, the other Opposition members greeted the former Minister, who is currently the Opposition chief whip, with red ribbon garlands and escorted him through the middle of the House to the foyer.

The Speaker asked the Opposition not to indulge in such theatrics and to hold the fast before the Secretariat. Mr. Balakrishnan retorted that the venue of the fast could be shifted to the Secretariat if the Speaker could ensure early acceptance of the Opposition demands.

The Speaker said he knew well what should be done if the Opposition persisted on holding the fast inside the Assembly complex.

Later, addressing a news conference outside the House, Mr. Balakrishnan said the Speaker's remarks about the Adivasi stir since the day the issue started figuring in the House were cruel and insensitive.

The CPI Legislature party leader, K. P. Rajendran, said it was regrettable that the Speaker did not even mention the Opposition adjournment motion when there was a ruling in the Tenth Kerala Assembly to the effect that all adjournment motions should be mentioned in the House.

The Assembly adjourned after rushing through the business listed for the day within a few minutes of the Opposition boycott.

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