Kerala Assembly ruckus case: Oppn demands Sivankutty's resignation, intensifies protest

The furore over the Kerala Assembly ruckus case, 2015 escalated further as the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) boycotted House proceedings and intensified protests on Thursday.

Thiruvananthapuram: The furore over the Kerala Assembly ruckus case, 2015 escalated further as the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) boycotted the House proceedings on Thursday. The Opposition has intensified the protest demanding the resignation of Education Minister V Sivankutty soon after the government faced setback from the Supreme Court in the case.

During zero hour in Kerala Assembly, Opposition moved a notice for an adjournment motion demanding Sivankutty's resignation. Congress MLA P T Thomas said the incident had brought disgrace to the state Assembly. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan rejected the opposition demand for the minister's resignation. Following which the Opposition staged a walkout.

The Kerala Student's Union has planned a protest march to the Assembly on July 29 and every district collectorate on Thursday is also planned. Youth Congress has also joined the bandwagon of protestors and the UDF has decided not to compromise until Sivankutty's resignation.

After the SC's response on the case, Sivankutty said that he will face the trial and will prove his innocence in the trial court. Minister V Sivankutty, former ministers' KT Jaleel and EP Jayarajan, CK Sadasivan, K Ajith and K Kunjammed are accused in the case.

The government's application to withdraw the case was rejected by the apex court on Wednesday. The SC said allowing the prosecution to be withdrawn would amount to interference in the normal course of justice for illegitimate reasons. The two-month-old second Pinarayi Vijayan-led government in the State is in turmoil over the case.

On March 13, 2015, the Kerala Assembly witnessed unruly scenes as members of the Left Democratic Front (LDF), then in opposition, tried to prevent then finance minister K M Mani from presenting the state budget. The LDF leaders were protesting against the minister's alleged involvement in the bar bribery scam.