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Sex racket issue stalls Kerala Assembly proceedings

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Assembly was adjourned just 14 minutes into the zero hour on Tuesday following Opposition clamour for a statement from Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan on the identity of the ‘VIP’ who had visited Shari, the victim of a sex racket who had died subsequently over two years ago.

The Opposition members moved into the well of the Assembly after their demand for the consideration of a notice for adjournment motion relating to the issue was rejected by Speaker K. Radhakrishnan, who made it clear that he would not allow such issues to be discussed in the House.

They first moved into the aisle, then returned to their seats heeding repeated pleas from the Chair, but were soon in the well of the House shouting slogans against the Chair and the Government. Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy said the Opposition needed a statement from the Chief Minister in the context of Shari’s parents’ recent revelation that the ‘VIP’, whose visit had caused great discomfort to the girl, was the present Health Minister P.K. Sreemathy.

Almost the entire treasury bench members were on their feet taking exception to the Opposition Leader’s statement.

The Chief Minister initially did not respond to the Opposition clamour, but later rose to point out that the matter was before the courts and could not, therefore, be discussed in the House.

Mr. Chandy then wanted to know whether no issue before the courts had been discussed in the House. The issue before the House had to do with the ‘VIP’ and the girl’s parents’ statement on the subject and not the matter before the courts, he pointed out.

Mr. Achuthanandan said the girl’s parents had called on him recently and informed him that the investigation into the case was not satisfactory.

Accepting their plea, he had written to the Centre requesting it to hand over the investigation to a team of senior officers.

The girl’s parents had also moved the courts on the subject and the matter had been posted for hearing on December 6, he added.

Mr. Chandy then wanted to know if the Chief Minister would hand over the memorandum that he had received from the girl’s parents to the CBI, but the Chief Minister refused to offer any comment on the issue.

Later, addressing a news conference, Mr. Chandy said the Government stand on the issue was unacceptable to the Opposition.

He wanted to know what was wrong with the Opposition demand and regretted that the ruling alliance had used the Speaker to thwart any discussion on the subject.

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