Thiruvananthapuram/ Kochi: Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala has sent a letter to Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan seeking protection for Congress legislator V. T. Balram. In the letter, Chennithala sought the Speaker’s intervention as Balram has to discharge his duties as a legislator despite CPM threatening that he would not be allowed to attend public functions.
The Opposition Leader alleged that as per Indian Constitution Article 19 (1) every citizen had the right to freedom of speech and Article 19 (1) (d) freedom of movement and in the case of Balram this had allegedly been violated. In the letter addressed to the Speaker, Chennithala informed that Balram had to attend public programmes in his constituency and was also expected to attend development programmes all of which had been violated by the CPM using muscle power.
Chennithala maintained that it was unfortunate that the ruling Government had taken power into its hands and was challenging the judicial system.
Satheesan blasts CPM
The CPM has unleashed its characteristic intolerance against V.T. Balram MLA, according to Congress leader V.D. Satheesan. In a facebook post Mr Satheesan said the CPM action was akin to the campaign unleashed by vested interests against the film Padmavati and the nationwide campaigns launched by Sangh Parivar organisations.
Mr Satheesan however did not mention anything about the controversial remarks made by Balram against communist leader A.K. Gopalan. He said senior congress leaders have already expressed their views on the matter and he would not add anything more to the subject. He said the democratic forces will defeat the violence unlashed by the CPM with the connivance of the state power.
