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House adjourned amid protests

Special Correspondent

UDF alleges failure to check spread of fever

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) forced adjournment of the Assembly on Friday following refusal of the Government to allow a discussion on the chikungunya epidemic stalking different parts of the State, particularly Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha and Kottayam districts.

The Opposition members trooped into the well of the House and shouted slogans against what they termed the Government’s apathy towards the suffering people of the fever-hit districts. Although Speaker K. Radhakrishnan repeatedly appealed to the members to return to their seats, his pleas fell on deaf ears. He adjourned the House just about 10 minutes into zero hour.

The Opposition conquest of the well of the House marked the culmination of some noisy exchanges between them and the treasury benches, who pointed out that the chikungunya havoc had been discussed several times by the House in the past few days. However, Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy insisted on adjournment of the proceedings “since the Government had failed miserably not only in checking the spread of the disease, but also to provide relief to those who had died after contracting fever.”

He said that several deaths were reported from the three worst affected districts, the Government had not cared to announce any ex gratia to those who had lost their lives till last Wednesday when the Cabinet decided to grant an assistance of Rs.25,000 to the next of kin of those who died of chikungunya. The Cabinet decision had no meaning because, according to the Government, there was no chikungunya death in the State. According to the Government’s figures, none of the 16 deaths in Alappuzha, 19 in Pathanamthitta and 37 in Kottayam were due to chikungunya.

As many as 31,000 had fever in Pathanamthitta and 77,000 in Kottayam. In many of the cases, the disease relapsed with itching and boils from which worms came out. This resulted in the affected districts christening the ailment ‘tomato fever’. The Government, however, remained unmoved so far.

The Opposition, Mr. Chandy said, had been supportive of all efforts of the Government to check the fever from spreading to new areas and to provide relief to the affected persons. However, the situation was unbearable now and the UDF was forced to organise a hartal in Pathanamthitta district to register its protest against the Government’s insensitive handling of the situation, he said.

Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan said the matter had been discussed several times in the House and the Leader of the Opposition had already made his customary speech whenever leave was denied for an adjournment motion.

Immediately on hearing this, an irate Opposition rushed to the aisle of the House and soon to the Speaker’s podium with loud protests. As the House marshals threw a security cover around the Speaker’s podium, they squatted on the floor and began sloganeering forcing Mr. Radhakrishnan to adjourn the House for the day.

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