Opp Walk Out over remarks against Abdullakutty

Thiruvananthapuram: The entire Opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front in Kerala on Tuesday staged a Walk Out in the state Assembly demanding withdrawal of a controversial statement made by a ruling party member against A P Abdullakutty. In a personal explanation in the House, Abdullakutty said there was no truth in the statement made by N Chandran of the CPIM on Monday that he was caught by a group of people along with a woman.

He said he was travelling with two other men when his car was blocked by hartal supporters at Vithura. Subsequently, he went to the nearby police station to seek protection.

However, he said the CPI(M) activists went on a disinformation campaign that he was travelling with a woman.

Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan told the House that as per the police report there was no woman in the car.

After Balakrishnna’s statement, Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy demanded an unconditional withdrawal of the statement and an apology by Chandran.

However, Chandran said he stood by the statement as there was a woman in another car that followed Abdullakutty's car to the police station.

This led to heated exchanges between the ruling and opposition benches and subsequent walk out by the opposition.

July 6, 2010