Opposition stages walkout twice

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Assembly witnessed two walkouts by the Opposition on Wednesday. The first came after an adjournment motion plea to discuss the UDF’s alleged appointment of new generation banks to disburse government salary and pension was not admitted. The Opposition stormed out a second time after Speaker G Karthikeyan prevented Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan from asking additional questions regarding the attack on the teacher of RVHS, Valakom. CPM’s P K Gurudasan, who moved a submission on the Valakom incident, demanded to know why the UDF Government had not initiated a proper investigation based on the statements of R  Krishnakumar - the victim - and his wife Geetha. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy replied that a systematic investigation was on. But then, Achuthanandan stood up and blamed the government for not arresting a single person thus far. He also wanted to know why the government feared R Balakrishna Pillai (Pillai is the manager of the school). Chandy said that the government intended to arrest the real culprits. ‘’Can we arrest just anybody?’’ he asked. The contradictory statements given by Krishnakumar had confused the police, Chandy said.When Achuthanandan attempted asking a second question, the Speaker stopped him. Angered at this, the Opposition walked out in protest. Earlier, the Opposition staged a walkout protesting that the UDF Government had entrusted the job of disbursing the salary and pension of government employees with private banks ICICI, HDFC and Axis Bank. CPM’s T M Thomas Isaac, who sought leave for the adjournment motion, said Finance Minister K M Mani’s decision would plunge state finances into a ‘’deep crisis’’ in the future. Mani had torpedoed the policies followed by the State Government without even holding a discussion on the issue. ‘’It sacrifices the interests of the state as well as that of the UDF,’’ Isaac said. Mani, however, blithely swept aside the allegations. He accused the LDF of distorting facts. Only public sector banks were allowed to disburse the salary and pension and, in fact, that decision was taken when Isaac was Finance Minister, he said.