THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: What was to be a busy and long Thursday at the Kerala Assembly turned out to be a quick-fix circus. With the Opposition messing up proceedings demanding the ouster of Forest Minister K B Ganesh Kumar and Chief Whip P C George, Speaker G Karthikeyan was forced to fast-forward the day’s business and wind up by 11.45 a.m. The Opposition first disrupted the proceedings after permission was denied for an adjournment motion moved by Kodiyeri Balakrishnan on the controversial remarks made by Ganesh Kumar and George. This led to a half-an-houradjournment of the House.The Opposition had agreed to calm down if George tendered an unconditional apology for his remarks against A K Balan and the lady Watch and Ward, but George had declined, Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan said. Further uproar forced an adjournment for the day. Owing to Food and Civil Supplies Minister T M Jacob’s death, the Assembly had missed its scheduled sittings for the past three days. A special afternoon session also was planned on Thursday to take up several Bills as the currentsession had been extended just by a day, up to Friday. On Thursday, 40 submissions, two Calling Attention Motions and the debates were suspended. While the rest of the business was rushed through, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said the Kerala Payment of Pension to Members of Legislature (Amendment) Bill and the Payment of Salaries and Allowances (Second Amendment) Bill need not be considered as they required the unanimous approval of the House.NOT A CASTEIST INSULT, SAYS CMEarlier, responding to the Opposition demand for admitting the motion, Chandy said the word ‘Pattikajaathikkaran’ (a member of the Scheduled Caste communities) did not constitute a casteist insult as it was not the name of any caste.While the government did not agree with George’s remarks, this put ‘’practical limitations’’ upon it in taking a suo motu case against George. The case filed at the Pathanapuram police station does not make any reference to George insulting Balan by calling him ‘Pattikajaathikkaran’,’’ Chandy said. In the E K Nayanar vs M A Kuttappan case, the Court had ruled in favour of Nayanar saying that the person said to be insulted should be present on the occasion. Balan was not.BOOT OUT GANESH KUMAR AND GEORGE, SAYS OPPOSITIONKodiyeri Balakrishnan parried Chandy’s argument saying that visual media was not popular at the time of the Nayanar vs Kuttappan case, but Balan had watched George making the insulting remarks live on TV. This made the earlier court ruling outdated, he said. George had violated Section 1 (10) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act which referes to intentionally insulting or intimidating ‘with intent to humiliate an SC or ST member in any place with public view.’ He had also violated the Human Rights Act and the Indian Penal Code. While the Chief Minister said one thing inside the House, Ganesh Kumar and George were making statements contradictory to it outside. George’s remarks also constituted a violation of the Speaker’s ruling. Kodiyeri demanded that cases should be filed against both after suspending them.Achuthanandan said George’s usage of ‘’Pattikajaathikkaran’’ to refer to Balan implied the latter was a man of lowly status. The Chief Minister’s explanation was unsatisfactory and the Opposition was protesting by remaining in their seats, he said. With this, the Speaker adjourned the proceedings for half-an-hour. But the uproar continued when the House re-convened, forcing an adjournment for the day.
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