Kochi: Five UDF MLAs began an indefinite sit-in in front of the state Assembly on Monday demanding the resignation of Health Minister K.K. Shylaja in view of the High Court's adverse remarks pertaining to the appointment of a member of the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights. The MLAs are Eldhose P. Kunnappillil, Roji M. John and V. P. Sajeendran (Cong) and N. Samsudheen and T. V. Ibrahim(IUML).
The Assembly witnessed unruly scenes with the Opposition MLAs even tearing the copies of the Kerala Medical Education (Regulation and Control of Admission to Private Medical Education Institutions) Bill and flinging it in the hall. The House was also suspended for nearly an hour. During zero-hour, the Opposition moved an adjournment notice demanding the resignation of the minister. After Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan defended the minister, speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan refused permission for the motion. Subsequently, the Opposition marched to the well of the House shouting slogans demanding Ms Shylaja’s resignation. As the noisy scenes continued, the speaker suspended the House and held talks with Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala.
Later, the House was convened again and the speaker informed that the Opposition had agreed to cooperate as some important bills were scheduled to be considered. But Mr Chennithala said that the Opposition would not cooperate if Ms Shylaja presents the Medical Education Bill. He also suggested that instead, the law minister or any other minister may present the Bill. But later, the speaker invited the health minister to present the Bill and this provoked the Opposition. Even as the Opposition MLAs trooped to the well shouting slogans, the minister went ahead with the Bill presentation. Subsequently, the Opposition Leader announced an indefinite fast by the MLAs who marched out of the House tearing the copies of the Bill into pieces. The current session of the House is scheduled to end on Thursday.
