Thaindian News

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 17 (IANS) Amid pandemonium created by the Left opposition, Kerala Speaker G. Karthikeyan Monday suspended two first-time Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) members for two days for unruly behaviour, especially towards the chair.

The decision sparked off further friction between the government and the opposition.

Chief Minister Oomen Chandy later demanded that proceedings of the assembly be telecast live so that people can see the conduct of their representatives. Opposition leader V.S. Achuthanandan called the speaker’s action “unacceptable” and vowed to protest.

“There is a limit to the patience we all have… The opposition has behaved irresponsibly,” Chandy told reporters.

Karthikeyan suspended T.V. Rajesh and James Mathew, who allegedly manhandled a woman security guard.

Responding, Achuthanandan said that what happened was totally unacceptable and they have no option but to launch a strong protest.

“We do not accept this suspension. Hence we will stage a satyagraha inside the house,” he thundered.

Trouble erupted when CPI-M district secretary Kadakampally Surendran, who is not a legislator, walked into the house to meet the opposition legislators and express solidarity with them.

When the speaker came to know of it, he suspended the two guards who stood at the entry point through which Surendran walked in.

The events that led to the suspension began Friday when the two legislators manhandled a woman guard in the assembly while rushing towards the speaker’s podium.

Later, the speaker invited all party leaders to see the footage of the melee. Both the rival front leaders stood their ground, with the treasury bench alleging misconduct and the opposition denying it.

At 8 a.m. Monday, Karthikeyan began marathon peace talks with the rival fronts that went on till 1.40 p.m.

“May be what happened was not done purposely but the two legislators have apologised for their misbehaviour,” said Karthikeyan.

Hearing this, Mathew was on his feet and shouted that they had not apologised.

The opposition members remained in the house even after the adjournment.

Former food minister and Communist Party of India legislative party leader C. Divakaran challenged the suspension.

“It is most unfortunate; the suspension came as a surprise to all of us because that was not what was decided at the talks,” said Divakaran.