The Kerala Assembly was adjourned after the Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) legislators disrupted the proceedings demanding suspension of the Question Hour on Thursday to take up the adjournment motion against the lack of facilities in the hill shrine of Sabarimala.
As soon as the Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan commenced the proceedings of the day, Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala demanded suspension of the Question Hour to take up the adjournment motion moved by Congress (I)’s Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan. He said the entire State is discussing the lack of facilities in Sabarimala and the House should discuss the serious issue facing the pilgrims.
The Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who intervened, said the issue was discussed, including the infrastructure facilities, in the House in detail on Wednesday and that there was no need to suspend the Question Hour to take up the adjournment motion. The Speaker told the Opposition that the Question Hour cannot be suspended and asked them to use the floor to raise the serious issues facing the people.
Following this, the UDF legislators trooped to the well of the House shouting slogans and displaying placards and banners in support of their demand.
The Speaker went ahead with the business but the Finance Minister T. M. Thomas Issac was not able to reply as the first two questions were put up by the Opposition. Amidst the protest, Devaswom Minister, Kadakampally Surendran replied to the third question raised by Muhammed Muhassin on the entry of women of all ages in Sabarimala.
The Speaker’s repeated pleas cooperate fell to deaf ears as did his warnings about suspending the Question Hour. “Let the world see. Did you read what the Governor had said on Wednesday ?, the Speaker asked the agitating Opposition legislators.
As the Opposition stepped up the protest, the Speaker suspended the Question Hour and cancelled the Calling Attention moved by C. K. Saseendran and Roji M. John.
The reports and papers listed for the day were laid by A.M. Arif, the Chief Minister and the Ministers in the House as asked by the Speaker. Later the Chief Minister also placed the statement on the post-flood re-construction activities initiated by the government in the State under Rule 300.
The Kerala Police (Amendment) Bill 2018 and the Calicut University (Alternate Arrangement Temporarily of the Senate and Syndicate) Bill 2018 were referred to the Subject Committee without discussion before the House adjourned for the day.
