Opposition stages walk out

Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 19 (UNI) Insisting an apology from Electricity Minister A K Balan for his remarks on nudity in temples, the Congress-led Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) today boycotted the Minister and later staged a walk out in the Assembly alleging that the Chair denied their rights during the Question Hour.

The trouble broke out during the beginning of the Question Hour when the Opposition members made it clear that since the Minister was reluctant to tender an appology, they would boycott him.

Following this, Speaker K Radhakrishnan took up the second question listed for the day, but the Congress members, who asked the question did not press for the same, forced the Speaker to move on to the third question.

As soon as Finance Minister Thomas Issac finished his reply to the third question of the day, the Opposition members demanded that they should be given an opportunity to ask the second question.

However, the Speaker ruled that since he called their names twice before moving to the third question, they could not be given a chance.

Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan also said that the members could be given another chance only after going through all the listed questions of the day.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition G Karthikeyan argued that it was the responsibility of the Minister to reply if the member who asked the question was present at his seat when it was taken up. ''So, it is nothing but denial of rights by the Speaker,'' he said, before staging a walk out.

Later, the Speaker said the action taken by the Opposition was highly unfortunate as he had given them a chance twice.

UNI