Headlines
Left boycotts Governor's address in Kerala assembly
Thiruvananthapuram, March 6
The Left
opposition walked out of the assembly on Friday as soon as Kerala
Governor P. Sathasivam rose to read out the government's policies for
the year.
Leader of opposition V.S. Achuthanandan rose at the
same time as the governor and was heard speaking a few sentences which
were not audible.
The governor smiled and paused for a while
before going onto reading out his address as the entire Left opposition
walked out of the house.
The Left opposition has made it clear
that they will not allow "tainted" Kerala Finance Minister K.M. Mani,
currently facing a vigilance probe in the "bar scam case", to present
his 13th state budget on March 13.
Friday's walkout, according
to the Left opposition, symbolises the fact that they mean business and
they will under no circumstances allow Mani to present the budget.
"We
seek the cooperation of all to support us, as we just cannot sit in the
house where Mani is present," said Achuthanandan to reporters outside
the assembly.
Right from the time whistle blower bar owner Biju
Ramesh revealed last year that Mani was given bribe to ensure that
certain closed bars were allowed to open, the Left opposition have been
up in arms and have been on a protest path demanding the resignation of
Mani.
The Oommen Chandy government ordered a vigilance probe into the issue and its report is awaited.