Action against five MLAs in Kerala assembly over 'bargate'

The Kerala assembly witnessed a uproar Tuesday for the second consecutive day over the 'bargate' scandal, following which a legislator was suspended and four other MLAs were warned for their unruly conduct in the house.

V. Sivankutty was suspended for the day, while T.V. Rajesh, P. Sreeramakrishnan, R. Rajesh and Babu M. Pallissery were warned. All the five are opposition legislators.

Later, Deputy Speaker Sakthan Nadar adjourned the house for the day.

The problem started when Leader of Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan submitted a document, wanting the state government to register a case against Finance Minister K. M. Mani, who according to a whistleblower bar owner Biju Ramesh, has taken Rs.1 crore as bribe to ensure that 418 closed down bars be allowed to open.

"The chief minister (Oommen Chandy) and the state home minister are protecting Mani and this is a clear violation of the Supreme Court directive, which insists that a case be registered against a public servant who is found to be corrupt," said Achuthanandan.

The Kerala government sticked to its stand that a probe is currently on. But the opposition party members started shouting slogans against the government. Later, a few of the Left legislators went up to the speaker's chair.

Sivankutty used the speaker's mike to shout slogans, demanding Mani's resignation, while other MLAs stood behind the deputy speaker.

The deputy speaker was conducting the proceedings Tuesday. He left the chair and went to his chamber after the atmosphere inside the house turned ugly.

When the session reconvened, Nadar said it was unfortunate that such a thing happened in the house.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy read out a resolution, suspending Sivankutty and warning the four legislators for their unruly conduct.

The Left leaders disapproved Sivankutty's suspension. They staged a protest in front of the assembly.

Achuthanandan said that the Left leaders will intensify the protest and will not stop till Mani resigns.

"It's strange that the state government is not registering a case against Mani, even after Ramesh in his reply to Mani's lawyer notice, is standing by his statement. We will not be cowed down by the suspension and such actions," said CPI-M politburo member Kodiyeri Balakrishnan.