MLAs’ ‘solar clash’ averted

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Thiruvananthapuram: The Assembly on Thursday witnessed a near clash between the ruling UDF and Opposition LDF members as a fallout of the solar scam. The Opposition also stalled the proceedings of the House for the fourth consecutive day. 
 
The unruly scenes were sparked off after home minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, while replying to an adjournment motion, said that it depends on the Opposition’s culture whether to withdraw or not the remarks that he (Thiruvanchoor) will be slapped. Agitated at this, Opposition members led by V.S. Sunilkumar, A. Pradeep Kumar and T. V. Rajesh rushed towards treasury benches.
 
UDF MLAs, including Hibi Eden, P.K. Basheer, Shafi Parambil and Varkala Kahar advanced towards the front row and both sides challenged each other. A section of senior MLAs took position in between the two sides and avoided an encounter.   
 
As the situation went beyond control, Speaker G. Karthikeyan suspended the House by  9. 50 a.m. 
 
The House  resumed by 11.10 a.m. after the Speaker held separate talks with both sides. The Opposition members again got agitated after the chief minister maintained that delaying forensic reports was not a difficult task. 
 

He was responding to Opposition Deputy Leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan’s remarks on the delay in getting the forensics report of fraudster Biju Radhakrishnan’s wife Reshmi. Irked by  the Chief Minister’s comment, the Opposition members again trooped to the well of the House and shouted slogans. Subsequently, the Speaker rushed through the remaining proceedings  and adjourned the House for the day.
 
Information and Public Relations Minister  K. C. Joseph told the House that the government would examine whether the logo of Team Solar was used on the cover page of I&PRD's publications 'Janapadham'. He said that a logo similar to that of Team Solar appeared on the cover page of Janapadham's April issue.
 
A. Firoz, who was suspended on Wednesday for his involvement in a cheating case along with Biju and Saritha, was the then chief editor of Janapadham.