Daijiworld Media Network

Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 30: The Kerala assembly on Thursday June 30 witnessed an uproar over the alleged rough treatment meted out by police to a CPI (M) member during the protest held by students on Wednesday June 29.

CPI (M) member and former home minister sought a discussion on what led to the rough treatment by police, and asked for leave for adjournment motion. Chief minister Oomen Chandy replied that the CPI (M) legislator, R Rajesh, was not roughed up but was being protected by police from the mob.

At this, CPI (M) member Babu M Palissery marched towards Chandy with Rajesh in tow. The treasury bench members rushed at Chandy to shield him from the opposition members who had taken a cue from Palissery and started moving.

Speaker G Karthikeyan called in the staff to separate the two groups and adjourned the house. The situation seemed to go out of hand and the two sides almost came to blows.

The speaker then had closed-door meetings with the top leaders of the parties, and later slammed them for their behaviour.

He reprimanded Pallisery and warned him of serious action if such incidents repeat in the future.

Miffed with Karthikeyan's refusal to grant leave for the opposition's adjournment motion, leader of opposition V S Achuthanandan staged a walkout with along with all the opposition members.

They shouted slogans and demanded stern action against police officers who allegedly roughed up Rajesh.

The house has been adjourned till next Friday, when the first budget of the Chandy government would be presented.