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Opposition walkout over attack on League office

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Opposition United Democratic Front members staged a walkout from the Assembly on Tuesday in protest against what they termed the Government’s failure to book those who had set the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) office at Perambra ablaze and attacked a Muslim League rally in the locality.

The Opposition walkout came after Speaker K. Radhakrishnan denied leave for an adjournment motion sought to be moved by Abdurahiman Randathani (IUML) in the light of Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan’s explanation that the situation in the area was under control and that he had directed Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Yasin to look personally into the recurring incidents of violence in the Perambra area and that a special investigation team, led by the Vadakara Deputy Superintendent of Police, had been constituted to investigate the attack on the Muslim League office.

Mr. Balakrishnan informed the House that the person who had pelted stones on a Muslim League rally had been arrested and it had been revealed that he did not belong to any of the Left Democratic Front constituents. Any attempt to foment trouble in the area would be put down strongly. The Kozhikode Revenue Divisional Officer had been told to convene an all-party conciliation meeting to restore peace in the area, he added.

Making the customary statement before the walkout, Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy said the Home Minister’s assurances meant little as nobody had been arrested for the attack on the Mathrubhumi office and the Congress local committee office. The attacks on the Muslim League office and the League rally could not be seen as isolated incidents. These attacks had taken place close on the heels of attacks on the Congress office and the Mathrubhumi bureau. In neither of the incidents could the police bring the guilty to book.

The police also could not arrest anyone in connection with the bomb blast inside the local police station and the argument being put forward now was that the bomb that went off was one that had been deactivated and kept in the station.

Rule of law could be maintained only if the Government took action without looking at the political allegiance of persons involved in violent acts. The Government had failed on this score, he said.

Earlier, the IUML member accused the police of partisan behaviour and said the situation in Perambra was grim following the repeated attacks on political opponents and newspaper and party offices by Communist Party of India (Marxist) activists.

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