Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala’s Opposition United Democratic Front raised a din in the state assembly on Tuesday, alleging that the ruling Left Democratic Front had struck a suspicious deal with the managements of self-financing private sector colleges.
The Opposition was also upset over chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan making remarks that suggested that the protests by Youth Congress cadres against the government’s policy towards self-financing colleges were carried out by hired protesters.
The resulting chaos meant that the calling attention motion and submissions for the day were affected.
The Opposition criticised the government for using police to put down a protest by Youth Congress workers on Monday.
Chief minister, Vijayan however said it was the Youth Congressmen themselves who were to be blamed for the incident.
Vijayan said police had to resort to using force because the protesters blocked traffic and attacked passers-by and policemen. He also alleged that some protesters had daubed red ink on their shirts to make it appear like blood.
Angered by the remarks, Opposition MLAs rushed to the well of the House and sat there in protest. However, an unfazed chief minister said irrespective of the chaos, he would complete what he wanted to say.
Vijayan said the government would stick to the agreement made with the private college managements and that the agreement was based on students getting admission on merit.
Opposition leader, Ramesh Chennithala strongly criticised the chief minister’s stand and his critical opinion about Youth Congressmen. “The chief minister’s tone is like that of one who speaks on the streets”, Chennithala said.
Chennithala said the Youth Congress did not need the chief minister’s good certificate, and added that Vijayan should consider that many respected people had occupied the chair that Vijayan now occupies.
