Opposition disrupts Kerala Assembly, climbs on the Speaker's podium

Thiruvananthapuram: The Opposition climbed on to the podium of the Speaker in Kerala Assembly on Monday and disrupted the proceedings.

The Opposition was protesting against the Speaker rejecting a notice given by Opposition to move an adjournment motion alleging that the government was undermining the functioning of the Solar Inquiry Commission.

The Opposition recalled that the Commission had blamed the police interfering with its effort to fetch evidence from Coimbatore by sending witness before the Commission Biju Radhakrishnan there. Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, in turn, had criticised the Commission for its observations.

The Home Minister said that the police had sent more policemen to accompany the Commission team that went to Coimbatore because it had reports that Radhakrishnan, who was a prisoner, would try to escape. If a convict in a murder case escaped, the blame would be upon the police.

Initially, the Opposition protested in the well of the House. Later some of them climbed on to the podium and stood near the Speaker shouting slogan.

The Speaker cancelled Calling Attentions and Submissions and rushed through the rest of the business. The House then voted supplementary demands for grants in the Budget for 2015-16 and demands for excess grants for 2011-12 and 2012-13. It also referred the Kerala Town and Country Planning Bill.