Oppn sees Constitutional crisis; Govt blames HC remarks

Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 12 (UNI) Violence in Kannur district once again led to heated exchanges in the Kerala Assembly today with Opposition claiming a ''Constitutional crisis'' in the state and the ruling Front coming down heavily on certain 'adverse' remarks of the High Court.

The Opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) staged a walkout in the Assembly after Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan said the adverse remarks against his government by the High Court's single bench was ''violation of the Constitution and misuse of power.'' The government would file an appeal to expunge the adverse remarks, he added.

The Court yesterday observed that the only solution to end the violence in Kannur district seemed to be a timely intervention by the Centre, by deploying sufficient forces that would not yield to the political or plutocratic clout by those in powers and out of power.

Before trouping the members out of the House, Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy said ''the judgement reflected the sentiments of the people.'' ''There is a total breakdown in the law and order situation and if the government fails to take the judgement as a warning, it may lead to a serious situation,'' he warned.

''You cannot escape from the responsibility by blaming the courts. The Court pronounced the verdict after going through the case diary in a particular case in which there is a clear attempt to save the accused,'' he said, adding that the government was playing with fire on a very sensitive issue.

MORE UNI CR JJ LS HS1256