By IANS,
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala assembly was adjourned Friday morning after witnessing unruly scenes over the issue of a minister’s alleged lewd remarks against Leader of Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan.
As the assembly proceedings began with the question hour, Deputy Leader of Opposition Kodiyeri Balakrishnan raised the issue of how state Forest Minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar, at a public meeting Thursday night in Kollam district, had called the Marxist leader “a sex maniac and a pervert”.
“The statement made by the minister is untenable and suitable action should be taken by the chief minister,” said Balakrishnan.
Chief Minister Oomen Chandy apologised on behalf of the government.
“The remark was uncalled for and should not have happened. I wish to make it clear this is not the opinion of the government and on behalf of the government, I am tendering an apology,” said Chandy.
However, a dissatisfied opposition kept shouting slogans and asked the speaker to suspend the minister from the house.
“Since this happened outside the house, the demand raised by the opposition cannot be granted,” said Karthikeyan.
With the opposition not relenting, the question hour was stopped and the speaker adjourned the house.
Speaking to reporters, Ganesh Kumar later apologised for his remarks.
“I know I have said something that should never have been said against anyone,” said Kumar, who belongs to the Kerala Congress (Pillai) and is the lone member of his party.
“But at the spur of the moment and before my voters last night, I said this because for long Achuthanandan has been haunting my father and my family. I tender my apology to him and to all those who have been hurt by my remarks,” he said.
Kumar’s father R. Balakrishna Pillai, a veteran politician and a former minister, is currently serving a one-year jail term because of a corruption case pursued by Achuthanandan for nearly two decades.