Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 21: With the Kerala government recommending a CBI inquiry into the Muthanga incidents last month, the opposition democratic front and its four MLAs, on a fast in front of the secretariat, called off their stir this afternoon. Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda offered lemon juice to the fasting MLAs. The tribals under the banner of Adivasi Kshema Samiti who had begun an indefinite dharna before the secretariat also ended their stir. The decision to call off the month-long stir was announced by leader of opposition V S Achuthanandan, following the government's decision to opt for a CBI probe as suggested by the National Human Rights Commission. It was opposition chief whip K Radhakrishnan (CPI-M) who began the relay fast in the assembly foyer which was later continued by CPI-M Parliamentary party secretary Thomas Issac in front of the secretariat after the assembly adjourned.


Government had held that a judicial probe was not needed into the Muthanga incident as the NHRC was already probing the issue. With NHRC giving directions for a probe by an independent agency, preferably the CBI, an emergency cabinet meeting last night decided to accept the directive in Toto. Bureau Report