Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 29: Mounting an attack on Speaker Vakkom Purushothaman, the opposition, led by the Marxist-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), today staged walkouts twice from the Kerala assembly over the B.ED college issue and non-allotment of extra-time to a member to participate in the discussion. Opposition members shouted slogans demanding justice from the Speaker before staging the walkout. The first walkout was over the allegation that the government was misleading the house and the high court on the B.ED college issue. The second one came when the Speaker informed CPI(M) member Thomas Issac that he had only two minutes left for winding up the speech. ''Then I am not speaking at all,'' said Dr Issac.


The entire opposition then boycotted the remaining proceedings, including the replies of ministers to the general discussion on the budget for 2004-05.

In response to their action, Finance Minister K Sankaranarayanan said the opposition would get ample opportunity to criticise the Speaker when their motion, seeking the removal of Mr Purushothaman, would be taken up by the house on February nine. ''It is not fair on their part to disrupt the proceedings in such a manner,'' he added.
Bureau Report