Opposition stages walk out over police lathicharge

Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 2 (UNI) The Congress-led opposition - United Democratic Front (UDF) - today staged a walk out in the State Assembly in protest against the police lathicharge on Youth Congress and Youth Front activists, who were demanding withdrawal of the controversial social science text book of seventh standard.

The opposition members, who alleged police excess, walked out of the House after Speaker K Radhakrishnan denied permission for an adjournment motion sought to be moved by Mr P C Vishnunath of the Congress.

Opposing the admissibility of the motion, Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said police had resorted to lathicharge and used water canon to disperse the activists who attacked the police by pelting stones and sticks during their Assembly march yesterday.

Stating that six policemen, including two Sub Inspectors, and nine Youth Congress activists were injured in the incident, he said the opposition should withdraw its violent agitation over the text book issue.

Leader of the opposition Oommen Chandy said though the Youth Congress activists had not destroyed any public property, they were beaten up brutally by the police in an attempt to suppress a democratic agitation.

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