Kerala Assembly: Congress-led UDF stages walkout over ‘abduction’ of woman CPI(M) councillor

UDF walks out of Kerala Assembly, accusing LDF of inaction on CPI(M) abduction; CM defends actions amid chaos.

The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) walked out of the Kerala Legislative Assembly on Tuesday (January 21) accusing the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) government of failing to take stringent action against the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] leaders and workers allegedly involved in the abduction and assault of CPI(M) councillor Kala Raju of the Koothattukulam municipality last week.

Seeking leave of the House for an adjournment debate on the alleged abduction and assault, Congress legislator Anoop Jacob said that the government had failed to ensure safety for women.

“Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had in a speech earlier this month said that stringent action will be taken against those who disrespect women through words or actions. When CPI(M) councillors kidnapped a woman councillor from the same party, the police under Mr. Vijayan aided the abductors. Despite the offence happening in front of him, the DySP refused to act for six hours, claiming that there was no complaint. She was manhandled, her sari was torn in front of several people, and she was threatened with dire consequences. When a celebrity complained recently about the insult she faced, the police were quick to act, but in this case, there was no response,” alleged Mr. Jacob.

Countering the allegations, the Chief Minister said that the police have taken strong actions based on the councillor’s son’s complaint and arrested four people. Separate cases have also been filed against CPI(M) workers over allegations of assaulting UDF workers and against UDF workers for allegedly assaulting the municipality chairperson.

“Lawful action will be taken against the wrongdoers, but the core issue here is horse-trading, which is detrimental to democracy. People might have shifts in political ideology at some point of time, but shouldn’t such people resign from their positions before shifting allegiances? Does the Congress party approve of such tendencies?” asked Mr. Vijayan.

Speaker A.N. Shamseer later rejected the UDF’s demand for an adjournment debate.

Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan accused Mr. Vijayan of “whitewashing criminal activities” of his partymen by shifting the focus to horse-trading. He said that people regularly shift allegiances in panchayats across the State, with even the CPI(M) accepting many turncoats.