LDF stages walk out in Assembly over bar bribe issue

Thiruvananthapuram: The Assembly session was disrupted Tuesday as the LDF Opposition continued their protest, demanding resignation of Finance Minister K M Mani, against whom a graft case has been registered.

The LDF members were seeking leave for an adjournment motion on the case registered by Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau on the bar bribery scam. The motion was rejected by the Deputy Speaker, who said that the Opposition was raising the same issue again and again.

Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan alleged that the chair had earlier promised permission for the notice but later changed his stand. Terming his stand unacceptable, the Opposition staged a walk-out.

Meanwhile, deputy leader of the Opposition Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said that the act of the Home Minister visiting K M Mani at his home a day after the case was filed against the Kerala Congress (M) chief proved that there was conspiracy to topple the case.

Later the day, the Opposition raised the same topic through a submission in the house.