Thiruvananthapuram: The Congress-led opposition in Kerala on Tuesday created ruckus in the state Assembly demanding the resignation of state Power Minister M M Mani for his disparaging remarks on women workers, and over the Pinarayi Vijayan government failing to reinstate T P Senkumar as state police chief despite orders by the Supreme Court.
As soon as the assembly opened for question hour, the opposition was up in arms shouting slogans demanding the resignation of Mani for his disparaging remarks on women plantation workers last month.
Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan asked the Opposition to remain quiet amid the din.
Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala then said that they did not wish to disrupt the assembly as issues concerning the people were being discussed.
“But Congress legislator P T Thomas will now approach the Kerala High Court with a special petition against Mani for action following his curt remarks against women plantation workers,” said Chennithala, after which the question hour went ahead.
After Question Hour, senior opposition legislator M Ummer of the IUML sought leave for an adjournment motion, saying the Constitution has been breached by Vijayan, as even after eight days of the apex court order to reinstate Senkumar, he had failed to carry it out.
“You (Vijayan) have violated the oath of secrecy, as you are yet to act on the apex court order on reinstatement of Senkumar. When the verdict came, you said the details are awaited.
Now even after a week, you are still dilly dallying, which is a clear sign of disrespect to the apex court. All your arguments against Senkumar, raised by one of the country’s highest paid lawyers, was dismissed.
No one knows if Kerala has a state police chief now. What is being said is that a former state police chief who is now your advisor is running the show...This is not acceptable,” said Ummer.
In his reply, Vijayan said: “We are on the job of reinstating Senkumar as the state police chief.”
“We are duty bound to comply with the order. It will be done. The due process of law to implement the order is being done.
It must be recalled that the Central Administrative Tribunal and the Kerala High Court ruled in favour of the state government, but the apex court ruled in favour of Senkumar. We will certainly comply with the order,” said Vijayan. — IANS
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