Oppn stages walkout in Kerala Assembly over titanium deal

Thiruvananthapuram, July 24 (UNI) The entire Congress-led Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) today staged a walkout in the Kerala Assembly in protest against the State Government entering into a tie-up with a Russian company for setting up a titanium-based industrial unit without floating a global tender.

They staged the walkout when Speaker K Radhakrishnan opposed the admissibility of an adjournment motion, sought to be moved by Mr V D Satheeshan of the Congress and others, after Industries Minister Elamaram Karim clarified that the Government was willing to hold any kind of inquiry into the deal.

The Minister said the Government would not surrender its rich mineral resource to any one and it would be utilised in the public sector only.

Mr Satheeshan alleged that the Government had signed the memorandum of understanding with Rosoboronexport, a Russian company involved in the arms deal, without floating a global tender. It was also suspected that the Government was trying to destroy the public sector Kerala Minerals and Metals Ltd to help the Tata group of companies, which proposed to start a titanium-based unit in Thoothukudi in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu.

Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy asked the Government to order a judicial inquiry into the whole episode.

UNI