THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A remark by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan that TV channels hired those who waved black flags at him invited strong protests from the Opposition in the Assembly on Tuesday, forcing the Speaker to wind-up the day’s proceedings abruptly. The comments came while replying to an adjournment motion notice of Congress legislator Shafi Parambil over the alleged police action on Youth Congress workers in various parts of the state on Monday.
“I don’t think the Youth Congress which has a good tradition would do that. It could be the TV channels who hired the activists,” the Chief Minister quipped. Agitated over this, the Opposition MLAs troo-ped into the well demanding him to withdraw it. They also sat there and shouted slogans. However, the Chief Minister said there was no question of withdrawing what he said and resumed his speech. He even quipped that the Opposition raised banners in protest during the Question Hour as TV channels were shooting them.
“Now since the channels are not there, they have disappeared,” he said. Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, who accused him of making a “street speech,” wanted speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan to examine the speech and either direct him to withdraw his adverse remarks or expunge those. However, the Speaker maintained that he couldn't insist on what the Chief Minister should speak. As the Opposition members continued their protests in the well, the Speaker adjourned the house for the day cancelling all further normal proceedings.
INK NOT FOR BLOOD STAIN
The Opposition clarified in the Assembly that the reports that red ink was used by Youth Congress activists in front of Secretariat to create an impression of blood stain were misleading. “They used the ink for writing posters. It was misinterpreted as for faking blood stain,” Mr Chennithala said.
