The Hindu : Kerala News : Chandy condemns LDF MLA's action

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Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007
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Chandy condemns LDF MLA's action

Special Correspondent

Sessions Court suspends operation of order on Minister's conviction

Thiruvananthapuram: Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy on Tuesday condemned the ruling front MLA Saju Paul's action of trespassing the Opposition bench.

He also objected to what he termed the ruling front's attempt to undermine legislative precedents and democratic principles in its bid to save Electricity Minister A.K. Balan who was sentenced to a prison term by a Palakkad court on Monday.

Addressing a press conference, Mr. Chandy said the Assembly had witnessed the Opposition parties staging agitations in the House or demonstrations in the well of the House. But this was for the first time that members of the treasury bench were trespassing the Opposition bench. He welcomed the Speaker's statement that an appropriate decision would be taken after viewing the video clipping of the proceedings.

K.K. Shaju (JSS) filed a complaint with the Speaker stating that Mr. Paul had moved out of his seat towards him and threatened him. Mr. Paul also complained that Mr. Shaju had abused him.

The Opposition leader condemned the Government's move to bring in a resolution terming the Palakkad court's action as an insult to the Assembly and seeking to inform the President, the Governor and the Chief Justices of the Supreme Court and the High Court. He said the entire move had been kept secret with the Government refusing to distribute the resolution for the Opposition's consideration. Besides, the Government had suddenly sprung the resolution on the House.

The matter was not discussed during the conciliatory meeting convened by the Speaker earlier in the day. The agreement between the ruling and opposition fronts was that the Law Minister should be allowed to continue with his statement on the issue. Mr. Chandy said the LDF Government's intolerance to the opposition's viewpoint was reflected in its actions.

Mani' stand

Kerala Congress (M) leader K.M. Mani on Tuesday took a different stand when compared to his colleagues in the United Democratic Front (UDF) Opposition by demanding Electricity Minister A.K. Balan's resignation in the context of a Palakkad court's verdict sentencing him along with a few others to a two-year prison term.

Addressing a press conference, Mr. Mani said that MLAs and Ministers did not have any privileges when it came to the question of violating the law. The court had not made any reference to the Assembly.

An MLA need not resign in the context of a court's verdict, but in the case of a Minister, it was a question of propriety, he asserted.

Condemning the offensive strategy of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), Mr. Mani said the Government's attempt to bring a resolution condemning the court's action in issuing the arrest warrant against the Minister was purely intended to protect him and put the blame on the court.

Mr. Mani said the resolution that was subsequently passed by the House amid Opposition protests amounted to contempt of court. The Government should not have come up with the resolution. Palakkad Staff Reporter writes:

The Sessions Court of Palakkad on Tuesday suspended the operation of an order of conviction and sentence awarded to Electricity Minister A.K. Balan and Alathur MLA M. Chandran by the Ottappalam First Class Judicial Magistrate Court on Monday.

The Magistrate Court had issued arrest warrants against them for not appearing in the court in a case in which they were convicted for two years' simple imprisonment.

Five others involved in the case and convicted along with them were granted bail on Monday.

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