Commutation of punishment of TP murder case convicts; opposition protest inside assembly; attempt to climb onto speaker's dais

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The opposition's protest flared up after the Speaker refused to allow the urgent motion notice that the government was trying to commute the punishment of the TP Chandrasekaran murder case convicts.

The opposition protested in front of the Speaker shouting slogans against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan with placards reading 'You can kill a man but not defeat him' and 'CPM is holding grudge even after slaughtering TP'. The Chief Minister was present in the House.

The opposition members who took to the center stage shouting slogans against Speaker AN Shamseer and tried to jump on the dais from the front. The Assembly adjourned within 22 minutes of the start of question time.

It was KK Rama who gave a notice to adjourn the assembly to discuss the concern caused by the attempt to commute the punishment of the culprits in the TP Chandrasekaran murder case, which shocked the conscience of the community. The speaker read the notice in question time and said that "the matter lacks urgency when it is already clear that there is no move for it". It was informed that the notice is being canceled and permission to be raised as objection may be granted. Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan stood up and objected to the fact that the Speaker gave the answer instead of the government.

The leader of the opposition pointed out that they have a copy of the letter sent by the jail superintendent asking for opinion on the commutation of the sentence and the opinion of the relatives was sought to commute the sentence. The Speaker intervened by stating that discussion would not be allowed. Satheesan raised his voice asking to be allowed to finish speaking. The speaker was adamant that he will not. "You are afraid," Satheesan retorted.

When the Speaker invited Kadakampally Surendran for the Calling Attention Motion, the opposition members came to the center with placards.

After the first Calling Attention Motion, the Speaker asked them to return to their seats. However, intensifying the protest, some members tried to climb onto the speaker's dais. The Speaker invited Minister Veena George to present the request for funds and the House adjourned yesterday after completing the proceedings.