Kerala Assembly rejects resolution to remove Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan
The resolution was moved by Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) party MLA, M Ummer to remove state assembly speaker P Sreeramakrishnan.
FollowThiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Assembly on Thursday rejected a resolution moved against speaker P Sreeramakrishnan by the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF).
Moving the resolution, Ummer said the Speaker represented the honour of the house, but the serious allegations raised against him have dented the Assembly's reputation. He said the Speaker was facing serious allegations such as dollar smuggling and proximity to those accused in the sensational gold smuggling case.Â
Before the assembly rejected the resolution, the opposition UDF staged a walkout immediately after the reply by the speaker.
The resolution was moved by Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) party MLA, M Ummer to remove state assembly speaker P Sreeramakrishnan.
The Speaker had admitted that he has connections with Swapna Suresh, the prime accused in gold smuggling case, he said. The Speaker's Assistant Private Secretary was questioned by the central agencies probing the smuggling case and there were media reports that the Speaker would be questioned after the Assembly session is over, Ummer said.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-(M)) is the ruling party whereas United Democratic Front (UDF) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are among the opposition parties.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who was supporting the speaker pointed out that the members whose name has come out in the Gold smuggling case are only 'accused'.
CPI(M) leader S Sharma argued in the assembly that the resolution should not be taken up for discussion in the state assembly as the allegations raised against the speaker are based on media speculations.
The opposition leaders did not agree with the statement by Sharma.
In his personal explanation, Sreeramakrishnan strongly denied the allegations. He said the resolution was based on hearsay and assumptions and hoped that this won't set a precedent.
He said the opposition was targeting the Speaker as it could not touch the government on political matters. Quoting the Quran to flag the personal attacks against him as mere insinuations, Sreeramakrishnan said the work carried out in the Assembly was done in tune with time. He denied knowing that Uralungal had given the Assembly work to a sub-contractor and said it was Oommen Chandy  who accredited Uralungal as a total solution provider when he was Chief Minister.
(With inputs from agency) Â
