THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Worn out charges of corruption against the government made the inevitable to happen in front of the Opposition on Thursday. Earning sharp ridicule from the treasury benches for a rudderless stand, the Opposition was steamrolled by the government, unmindful of their continuing protest against Finance Minister K M Mani, during the scheduled presentation of Finance Appropriation Bill.
The ritualistic stir of the Left, which was being carried out without fail ever since the current session commenced and whenever Mani rose to pilot assigned businesses, was countered by the ruling front with elan, leaving the rival camp marooned.
The much expected protest of the Opposition, after presentation of papers and an earlier walkout staged over alleged indifference of the government in effectively addressing the grave issue arising out of moves of the centre to allow large scale coconut oil and copra imports into the country, took a curious turn after listed speakers from the treasury benches went hammer and tongs against the Left, while MLAs in the Well holding a sit-in and a few others including Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan standing as mute witness.
Even before Mani presented the Bill for discussions, the Opposition leader began to read out his prepared speech. Speaker N Sakthan’s reminder to Achuthanandan that time has not reached to raise the usual protest and the minister is yet to present the Bill, ended in vain, prompting him to call Mani to present it, leaving agitated Left members rushing to the Well. Achuthanadan said the government had made the corrupt Mani a saint and saved Excise Minister K Babu also,by utilising the Vigilance department. He finished his speech sans mike.
As confusion prevailed, the Speaker also singled out names of UDF MLAs listed to speak. He didn’t call those in the list from the Opposition side, since they were not in their seats.