THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan has said that the suspension of the MLAs was a pre-planned act and Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had acted against the spirit of the understanding reached in the talks held in the Speaker’s chamber. However, Government chief whip P C George claimed that there was a case of serious misconduct on the part of the MLAs and they themselves invited the punishment. Achuthanandan told a news conference that an understanding was reached in the talks held with the Speaker in the presence of the Chief Minister and the Opposition leader. ‘’Even the ruling party leaders had not raised the charge that the MLAs consciously attacked the woman watch and ward staff,’’ he said. Achuthanandan said that it was at the insistence of certain Congress leaders that the woman watch and ward staff member had levelled charges of being attacked. He said that Speaker G Karthikeyan had made honest efforts to find an amicable settlement to the issue. He denied the charges of indiscipline by the two CPM MLAs. “They were trying to make a correction. They did not show any disrespect to the Speaker. But immediately the Chief Minister moved a resolution for suspending the MLAs’’ he said. However, Government chief whip P C George said it was the serious misconduct on the part of the MLAs that vitiated the atmosphere. “From 8 a m onwards, the Chief Minister, the Opposition leader and party leaders from both sides were holding talks with the Speaker. All efforts were for evolving a consensus. It was the essence of what had been agreed upon among the leaders that the Speaker made his ruling,’’ he said. He pointed out that it was against the decision to which the Opposition leaders were a part, that the two CPM MLAs raised their voice and protested at the Speaker’s ruling. He claimed that it was for the first time in the history of the House that a woman watch and ward was attacked. He said the MLAs were themselves responsible for the incidents.
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