Furore in Kerala Assembly over law and order situation

The Congress-led UDF opposition created a furore in the Kerala Assembly over the 'worsening' law and order situation, leading to adjournment of the House on the last day of the seven-day session.

The trouble started during zero hour when the opposition sought to move an adjournment motion on the law and order situation and demanded the resignation of Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, alleging that the police force under him had 'failed to protect people from gangsters'.

Denying the charges, Balakrishnan said the UDF was deliberately creating a 'smokescreen' over the issue with political motives in mind.

On the opposition demand for a CBI probe into the Paul Muthoot George murder case, he said there was no need for it as investigation was progressing and the High Court had
considered the matter. "Let the court decide on it," he said, adding that the government had nothing to hide on the case.

Amid heated exchanges, opposition leader Oommen Chandy alleged that when Balakrishnan was in the opposition, he had gone to a college in the city and escorted Omprakash, one of the gangsters arrested in the case, away from a student agitation in the campus.

Chandy alleged that Omprakash was an activist of the pro-CPI (M) student wing Student Federation of India.

Irked by the remark, Balakrishnan said he was ready to resign his post if Chandy proved the charges. He said he had gone to the campus at the time of the agitation, but had not escorted Omprakash, as alleged. As the opposition protested in the well of the House, the
speaker K Radhakrishnan rushed through the other business and adjourned the House sine-die.

Earlier, Balakrishnan said the law and order situation in Kerala was far better compared to other states. That was the reason why 'India Today' selected Kerala for the law and
order award 2008, he said.

Later, UDF opposition activists staged a dharna before the Secretariat in protest against the 'deteriorating' law and order situation in the state.