Kerala Assembly adjourned sine die amid Oppn protest

Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 29 (UNI) The Kerala Assembly today adjourned sine die after rushing through the business listed for the day even as the Congress-led Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) members shouted slogans from the well of the House demanding withdrawal of the ''anti-judiciary'' resolution passed by the House on Tuesday last.

The Opposition members came to the House after boycotting the Question Hour and demanded withdrawal of the resolution which was passed by the House in the wake of a magistrate court issuing arrest warrants against Electricity Minister A K Balan and Mr M Chandran, CPI (M) MLA, for not being present in the court when the magistrate sentenced them to two years' imprisonment in a criminal case.

Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy alleged that the members were denied the right to move amendments on the resolution by not circulating it among them.

He demanded withdrawal of the resolution as it was an ''insult'' to the House and went against conventions and precedents.

Mr Chandy also alleged that policemen in mufti were present in the press gallery today.

Stoutly opposing the demand, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan said there was no question of withdrawing the resolution as the magistrate showed disrespect to the House by issuing arrest warrants against the minister and the member despite their request to spare them from appearing in the court because of the on-going Assembly session.

Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said there was not even a single word in the resolution against the judiciary.

Soon, copies of the resolution were circulated and the Opposition members moved to the well of the House tearing the copies and shouting slogans.

Speaker K Radhakrishnan rushed through the listed business even as the Opposition members continued their protest and the House passed three Bills without discussion on the strength of members from the treasury benches.

Before announcing adjournment of the House, the Speaker also said that he was not aware of the presence of policemen in mufti in the press gallery and assured the House he would look into the matter.

UNI