‘Congressmen, both living and departed, appointed Potty in Sabarimala’; War of words, assembly adjourned 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala assembly witnessed a fresh round of verbal spat between the ruling and opposition members on Thursday. The question hour was cancelled after the opposition members trooped to the well of the house and protested. Opposition leader V D Satheesan said the opposition is on a non-cooperation protest in the Sabarimala gold theft case. He alleged that there were serious lapses from the side of the special investigation team and warned that the accused who are released could destroy evidence. Satheesan explained that the opposition is conducting a peaceful protest inside the assembly.

Minister M B Rajesh while replying said the investigation in the Sabarimala gold theft case is moving forward without any lapses. He said the opposition has realized that after the arrest of the prime accused Unnikrishnan Potty, several prominent leaders from their own party would also be arrested. The minister questioned whether the opposition still has the courage to keep singing the song ‘Pottiye Ketttiye’. He alleged that it was the Congressmen, both living and departed who appointed Potty in Sabarimala. He also pointed out that in the past five years, the opposition has not even been able to move a single no-confidence motion against the government. What is being seen in the assembly now, he said, is a drama by a disarmed opposition.

However, Speaker A N Shamseer termed the incident in which some opposition members allegedly assaulted watch-and-ward in the assembly the other day as unfortunate. He said the government is ready to hold discussions on issues related to the Sabarimala gold theft case. ‘This is perhaps the first time in democracy that a ruling party is saying that they are ready for discussion. If notice is given, discussions can be held, but the opposition is not ready for discussion,’ the Speaker said. The assembly adjourned after passing the Appropriation Bill.