UDF MLAs begin hunger strike in Assembly

Thiruvananthapuram: The UDF intensified its agitation against fee hike in self-financing medical colleges inside and outside the Assembly on Wednesday.

UDF members of the Assembly Hibi Eden, Anoop Jacob and Shafi Parambil began a hunger strike in the foyer of the Assembly while the protest by Youth Congress continued before the Secretariat. A hartal is being observed in Thiruvananthapuram district in protest against police action against Youth Congress activists yesterday.

UDF members disrupted Assembly proceedings from the beginning of the sitting on Wednesday. They moved into the well of the House and shouted slogans after Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan refused permission to Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala to speak during the question hour.

Later, speaking during zero hour, the Opposition Leader demanded that the hike in fees, effected as per agreement between government and self-financing colleges, should be withdrawn.

Protesting against the Speaker not allowing him to speak during question hour, Mr. Chennithala said that there were precedents of the Speaker allowing the then Opposition Leader V. S. Achuthanandan to speak during question hour when the UDF was in power.  Though Mr. Achuthanandan had ridiculed then Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on such occasions, Mr. Chandy had showed restraint.

On the other hand, the present Chief Minister was using intemperate language in his reactions to Opposition protest. Thus, he was failing to keep the decorum as Leader of the House.

The Speaker said that the letter given by Mr. Chennithala objecting to the language used by the Chief Minister was under his consideration.

As Opposition began a sit-in in front of the House while Mr. Chennithala was speaking, the Speaker did not allow Mr. Chennithala to continue with his speech. The Speaker then rushed through the proceedings and the House adopted the demands for grants for Heads of States, Ministers and Headquarters Staff and Administration of Justice without debate. The Speaker then adjourned the House.

Before adjourning the House, the Speaker said that there was no debate as cut motions were not moved (by the Opposition), and the Chief Minister said that he was not addressing the House.

The Kerala Congress (M) did not join the slogn-shouting and sit-in by UDF members but staged a walk-out. UDF constituent Muslim League did not join the fast but two of its members K. M. Shaji and N. Samsudheen are offering a satyagraha with the members on fast.