Thiruvananthapuram, February 2 (IANS). High drama was witnessed in the Kerala Assembly on Monday when Speaker AN Shamseer refused to allow an adjournment motion to discuss the issue of allegedly granting liberal parole to convicted criminals belonging to the CPI(M).
The decision was followed by protests by the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), which resulted in a boycott of the day’s proceedings led by opposition leader VD Satheesan.
The adjournment motion was moved by KK Rema, MLA and widow of slain CPI(M) rebel leader TP Chandrasekaran. Rema sought a debate on the issue of what the opposition termed the government’s selective and arbitrary use of parole provisions, especially in cases of convicts linked to the ruling party. The Speaker rejected the notice and said that the matter was not worthy of adjournment discussion.
The matter was intervened by state Parliamentary Affairs Minister MB Rajesh, who said there was no emergency that required leave for an adjournment motion and it could be raised as a submission. After the refusal, the opposition members raised slogans inside the House and accused the government of protecting criminals.
As the noise increased, Satheesan stood up to protest and accused the government of suppressing the debate on an issue of public importance. After this he threw the UDF MLAs out of the House in protest.
Speaking to reporters outside the Assembly, KK Rema said that the convicts in the TP Chandrasekaran murder case have taken a total of more than 1,000 days of parole so far. He alleged that repeated granting of parole has weakened the sense of justice and has caused deep grief to the victim’s family.
He said people convicted of a brutal political murder were being treated with extraordinary leniency. Satheesan alleged that the Pinarayi Vijayan government was exceptionally lenient in granting parole to Chandrasekaran’s killers.
He claimed that the Chief Minister was unwilling to stop the practice because he was afraid of those elements, a charge strongly opposed by the ruling front. However, the government said the parole was granted as per existing rules and procedures.
–IANS
PSK
