LDF to protest against FM outside Assembly

In a bid to step up its agitation outside the Assembly against Finance Minister K M Mani, facing bribery charges in the bar scam, CPI(M)-led LDF Opposition today decided to block him on roads and boycott his public functions.
The LDF, which strongly took up the bar scam in the Assembly resulting in the budget sessions being cut short, decided to continue its stir, demanding Mani's resignation.
Addressing a press meet here, LDF Convenor Vaikom Viswom said LDF activists would take out protest demonstrations statewide on April 6, 7 and 9 and also a Collectorate march on April 22.
"LDF will continue its legal battle against UDF MLAs who harassed our woman legislators in the Assembly on March 13. The focus of our agitation will be Mani's resignation and women's safety," he said.

He also said the Opposition were of the view that the budget presentation by Mani was not as per Assembly procedures and so it could not be said to have been done.
Viswom also expressed concern over the Speaker failing to address the grievances of women MLAs even after they lodged a complaint.
The Budget session, which began on March 9, saw unprecedented violence on the Budget presentation day and ended sine die today following LDF's continued protest over the bar scam issue.
The scam, which broke out last November, took a serious political turn after Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau had registered a case against Mani on a petition by a bar owner that the minister had accepted bribe to renew liquor licenses.