Kerala: UDF members stage walkout from Assembly
Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 18 (UNI) Opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) members on Tuesday staged a walkout from Kerala Assembly in protest against disallowing an adjournment motion by the Speaker for a discussion on the decision of the government to establish a police commissionerate with magisterial powers.
Seeking the leave of the House to move an adjournment motion in this regard, Congress member VT Balram said the decision will create long term repercussions.
Citing examples like in Kolkata and Mumbai, he said the sharing of magisterial powers with the police will create imbalance as the powers presently now lies with the district collectors only.
In his reply, Chief Minister Pinarayi said the decision to form a police commissionerate will be delayed due to various reasons.
Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said CPI Minister E Chandrasekharan holding the Revenue portfolio had also given a letter to Chief Minister against the decision, showing there was no consensus among the CPI(M)-led Left Front.
The CPI minister wrote to the Chief Minister following an opposition from CPI State Secretary Kanan Rajendran, he added.
However, the Chief Minister said commisionerates conferred with magisterial powers are functioning in 50 urban areas in the country and claimed that it will increase the efficiency of police in investigation.
At present there was no decision to implement the commissionerate, he added.
The CPI minister said in his letter that the police may misuse the UAPA and the KAPA acts after getting magisterial powers.
Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan later denied permission to allow the adjournment motion. In protest against this, the Opposition members from UDF staged a walkout.
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