THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Opposition UDF is all set to corner the LDF government on the first day of the Assembly session, demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, in the wake of the Supreme Court order directing the state government to reinstate DGP T P Senkumar as the state police chief.
The Opposition will also demand the ouster of Electricity Minister M M Mani from the Cabinet for his foul speak against the women workers of ‘Pembilai Orumai’ in Munnar. The UDF legislators will meet ahead of the commencement of the Assembly session on Tuesday morning to decide on holding a protest on the floor of the House seeking the resignation of the Chief Minister and Mani.
Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala told reporters no government has faced a verdict of the kind the Supreme Court has pronounced against the Pinarayi government.
“The court has concluded Senkumar has been divested of the state police chief post for political reasons, while rejecting the charges of lapses in the conduct of probe into the Puttingal mishap and Jisha murder case and attendant public dissatisfaction. The Chief Minister has no legal, moral or political right to continue in power. He should resign,” said Chennithala. He said CPI secretary Kanam Rajendran had stated there was no decision in the LDF to remove Senkumar from the state police chief post.
“The verdict is thus only against Pinarayi Vijayan and his political vendetta,” said Chennithala. He also demanded the ouster of minister M M Mani from the Cabinet for his derogatory remarks against members of Pembilai Orumai. He demanded the government take the initiative to end the Pembila Orumai stir in Munnar. “It was none other than Mani who forced the women to launch the stir. Who has given him the licence to speak against workers, IAS-IPS officers and mediapersons in this fashion? Being an accused in a murder case, making him a minister itself was wrong,” he said.
Manju Warrier slams minister
Coming down heavily on Power Minister M M Mani for his derogatory remarks against Pembilai Orumai activists, actor Manju Warrier said, “The stench of his statement puts the entire nation to shame”. “I am with the Pembilai Orumai activists in their struggle to regain self-respect,” she said in a Facebook post.
“Some men believe they can say or do anything against women. By speaking like one of them, what message was the minister sending to society?” she asked.
Manju termed Mani’s statement as an insult to womanhood. “Pembilai Orumai’s fight in Munnar had attracted the nation’s attention and a large number of people stood with the movement. However, the minister, through his statement, has insulted all the women who are trying to stand on their own feet,” she said.