Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Opposition disrupts question hour

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The first question hour of the 13th Assembly was disrupted by the Opposition members on Monday alleging that the right to raise the first two questions on the floor of the House through draw of lots was scuttled.

The Opposition alleged that a question on the palmolein case, raised by M. Hamza, and another one on the Ministers facing charges of corruption and other malpractices, given by M.A. Baby, were not allowed to be raised on the floor of the House.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition Kodiyeri Balakrishnan raised the issue through a point of order at the start of question hour. Speaker G. Karthikeyan said he would give a ruling on the issue after the question hour. Opposition members then rose from their seats and moved to the front rows shouting slogans saying their rights in the House were not being protected. They also displayed placards against `corrupt' Ministers. Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan had not reached the House then. The Opposition members said the right to raise the question was denied by the Chief Minister. Mr. Karthikeyan clarified that the Chief Minister had nothing to do with the prioritisation of questions.

As the Opposition refused to yield to the Speaker's request, he called M.V. Sreyams Kumar to raise the first question. Seven questions, from 2 to 8, were listed by the Opposition members. Since they refused to cooperate, Mr. Karthikeyan called P.C. George for raising the ninth question. When Mr. Achuthanandan arrived, the Opposition sought permission for him to speak. Mr. Achuthanandan said the Opposition's right to raise questions was being disrupted and he sought the Speaker's stance on the issue.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Strengthen popular interventions: Isaac
Directive likely to issue door numbers
VACB case against KTDFC ex-chief
Lottery cases: directive issued
Opposition disrupts question hour
State to form real estate regulatory authority
‘Ministers chosen on communal lines'
State to set development model: Chennithala
No change in pact: Chandy
Unions postpone bus strike
Helpline for jobseekers
Quiz contest on space science
Spreading the message of universal brotherhood

Copyright © 2011, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu