People's Democracy

KERALA

Truth Finally Triumphs Over Treachery

N S Sajith

THAT truth is invincible and omnipotent, has once again been proved. The torrent of fabricated stories, that were concocted by the leaders of the United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala in order to malign the opposition MLAs, has been found to be fallacious. It is to be recalled that two members of the legislative assembly (MLAs), namely T V Rajesh and James Mathew, both from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI(M), were suspended on technical grounds for two days in the ongoing assembly session. But the malfeasance of the speaker and the UDF bosses stands debunked.  

In the meantime, all part of the state witnessed massive protest marches on October 18 and 19; these too indicated that the authorities could not deceive the people with falsehoods. On October 17 and 18, Kerala assembly too witnessed an unprecedented day and night protest by legislators on Monday, while the streets in Thiruvananthapuram saw enormous protests overnight. The street in front of the assembly turned into a hub of protest.

Though the speaker, G Karthikeyan, circulated the video footage of assembly proceedings to buttress the allegation of “unruly behaviour” on part of the two said MLAs in the assembly as the reason of their suspension, the images of awkward posturing and uncontrolled action by the health minister and Socialist Janata leader K P Mohanan in same footage has put the government itself in the dock. At the same time, the misuse of the speaker’s office by a Mahila Congress leader also boomeranged upon the speaker and the government. One may note that Mahila Congress state president, Bindu Krishna, had issued a statement demanding action against the said CPI(M) MLAs.

On October 17, two opposition MLAs --- T V Rajesh and James Mathew --- were suspended amid pandemonium in the assembly. Prior to this, there was a tussle between the MLAs and the Watch and Ward staff in the house on October 14. When opposition MLAs were protesting against the DGP’s report on police firing in Kozhikode and demanding action against the assistant police commissioner, Radhakrishana Pillai, who fired bullets against SFI activists there (see People’s Democracy, October 10-16), the Watch and Ward staff manhandled T V Rajesh and K K Lathika. But the story cooked up by the UDF leaders, and mainly by the UDF chief whip P C George and industries minister P K Kunhalikkutty, was that opposition MLAs had manhandled one Rajani Kumari, a woman in the Watch and Ward staff. UDF leaders extensively spread this story through the pro-UDF media. They also played a drama by admitting the lady staff member to a hospital.

To overcome the crisis, leaders from both the side engaged in a marathon discussion on October 18. In the meantime, the footages released by the speaker G Karthikeyan’s office showed that no lady staff member was manhandled in the scuffle. Thus the first fortress of their falsehoods crumbled now. To overcome the humiliation consequent upon it, the speaker resorted to another lie --- that Rajesh and Mathew had questioned his ruling. But the MLAs had only said that the speaker had breached the understanding that was reached in the meeting in the speaker’s chamber.

All of a sudden, however, the chief minister Oommen Chandy stood up and read out a motion for the suspension of Rajesh and James Mathew. In protesting against this suspension order, then, all opposition legislators staged a sit-in inside the house shouting slogans against the speaker and the chief minister. LDF leaders said that the suspension followed a plan already scripted by the UDF leaders. It is obvious that when the story of a lady being manhandled, knocked the speaker and the government’s defence down, they concocted another story about the speaker’s ruling being questioned.

Soon after the ruling combine’s members passed by a voice vote the motion read by the chief minister, opposition leader V S Achuthanandan announced that, all opposition members would be staging a dharna inside the house until the suspension order was revoked. Simultaneously, high intensity protest actions erupted all over Kerala.

The vigour of the protest amplified as the news broke out regarding the misuse of the speaker’s office and the offensive and vulgar posturing by minister K P Mohanan. The demand for action against K P Mohanan now rose from various corners. As a face saving measure, the speaker then suspended a clerk for the misuse of his office.

CPI(M) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan has demanded that the speaker should clarify the situation regarding the misuse of his office. While replying to a question in New Delhi, Pinarayi said the speaker’s office has been misused for political activity. The speaker has to protect the right of every member in the house. Minister K P Mohanan proved that he is unfit to the post.

Oppostion leader V S Achuthanandan demanded the suspension of K P Mohanan for his awkward and vulgar act in the house. The minister tried to jump towards the opposition members, VS said.