THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Opposition LDF staged a walkout from the Assembly on Tuesday after its demand to move an adjournment motion on the murder of SFI Idukki district vice- president Aneesh Raj, was rejected by Speaker G Karthikeyan. The notice for the motion was given by K K Jaychandran (CPM) during zero hour.
The demand was turned down after Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told the House that the second accused in the case had been arrested and the first accused, who is undergoing treatment in the Kottayam Medical College Hospital, will be arrested soon. Chandy had also a dig at the Opposition that out of the six political murders which took place after the UDF Government came to power, the accused in four cases were CPM men.
Not satisfied with the explanation, Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan, who led the walkout, charged that the law and order in the state had broken down due to the activities of the Congress and IUML, who were making the police toe their line.
The issue of police high-handedness also came up during submission time with Koyilandi MLA K Dasan alleging police atrocities during a CPM march in which he took part a few days ago. He held the Circle Inspector concerned squarely responsible for the atrocities unleashed on the marchers. He alleged that the woman chairperson of Koyilandy municipality was sustained injuries in the incident and demanded the suspension of the CI.
The Chief Minister said that he had sought a second report after the first report he received did not match the information provided by Dasan to him. When Achuthanandan, Opposition Deputy leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and other LDF members insisted on action against the CI, Chandy assured that the report will be secured immediately and action will be taken if necessary before the House adjourned sine die on Friday.
To another submission raised by Therambil Ramakrishnan, Chandy said that the delay in implementation of projects has become a bane of the state and public funds were remaining unutilised.
‘’The list of unfinished and delayed projects is being prepared. The delay in taking up projects is due to poor homework including hurdles in land acquisition. Henceforth works will be taken up only after proper planning. The government is also planning to give incentives to those contractors who complete work in a time-bound manner,’’Chandy said.
He also agreed to the suggestion of the MLA for a periodical review of projects in the constituencies in the presence of the respective MLAs.