Shibu Corners VS on VIP Issue

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Labour minister Shibu Baby John’s master move, cornering Opposition leader V S Achuthanadan, turned the ongoing Assembly session in favour of the ruling front on Friday.

Achuthanandan’s attempts to highlight the ‘conspiracy angle’ in the wake of the latest developments in the solar case backfired when the Shibu offered to name the prime conspirator if Achuthanadan reveals the name of the ‘VIP’ in the Kiliroor sex scandal. The remarks jolted the Opposition, who were eyeing an opportunity to disrupt the House proceedings. The Opposition later resorted to the usual walkout.

The Opposition leader insisted that the minister should reveal the name of the conspirator. In reply, Shibu maintained that he had said there may be some ‘perverts’ who might have conspired with Biju Radhakrishnan.In a veiled reference to K B Ganesh Kumar, Shibu also reminded Achuthanandan such a ‘pervert’ had spoken foul of the Opposition leader four years ago and the same person has now joined the LDF ranks. When Achuthanandan remained adamant, Shibu turned the tables with the VIP reference.       

Achuthanandan,however, recouped soon and said that Shibu was trying to run away from facts. Left legislators soon trooped to the Speaker’s podium and asked the minister to reveal the conspirator. Snubbing Achuthanandan further, Shibu said he has taken the veteran leader as a model and would divulge the name of the conspirator only after getting totally convinced on the full involvement of the conspirators.

The permission granted by Speaker N Sakthan to K M Mani for making a statement under Rule 64, a privilege for a member after his resignation as minister, evoked protests for some time from the Opposition benches.  The rule was read out and explained by the Speaker but the Opposition leader demanded a ruling for the same. Mani said he had resigned not because he was found guilty by a court, but only owing to certain remarks that were passed without hearing him.

Related Stories

No stories found.
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com