Thiruvananthapuram: The opposition stalled the Assembly for the second day on Tuesday over political murders and lynching of a tribal young man. A ruckus began as soon as Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan reached the dais and they forced him to suspend the Question Hour after ten minutes. They raised placards and banners blocking his view. His call for maintaining dignity and warning against "blocking the face of the chair" went in vain. He asked the opposition leader not to disrupt the proceedings if he respects democracy. He said the opposition leader keeping silent without intervening was not right.
When the assembly was reconvened, the ruckus continued which forced him to adjourn the House after rushing through the business. Later, he told reporters that the opposition disrupting the question hour continuously over the issue of political murder is unfortunate. "The rights of the opposition will be protected. I had told the opposition leader that a notice for adjournment motion could be given after the question hour," he said. "They protest in whichever way they think is suitable, and I would not question it. But blocking the view of the chair is not right. I will permit to raise the issue as an adjournment motion if raised tomorrow. I have never behaved in a biased manner."
He refused to respond to personal allegations against him and also on the decision of the government to withdraw the vandalism charges when in opposition during the budget presentation by the then finance minister K. M. Mani. Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala later told reporters that not permitting adjournment motion notice is a violation of their rights. "Why are they afraid to permit adjournment motion? The government and the police were acting as a mute witness when incidents of political murders are increasing in the state," he said.
He said that the government did not even show the decency to condole the death of Safeer, who was stabbed to death by ruling party members in Mannarkkad. The opposition had given the notice to raise this issue along with the lynching of Adivasi youth Madhu in Attappady. However, they were not allowed. Mr Chennithala said chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan had not regretted these deaths and condoled with their families. Though he was in Thrissur, he was not ready to go and see the dead body of Madhu.
