Kerala: LDF protests during question hour

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The month-long session of the Kerala Assembly began on a jarring note today with the CPI(M)-led LDF opposition protesting during question hour over alleged denial of a "starred" question to a CPI(M) member on the 'ice cream parlour" sex scam case.Raising the issue within minutes of the House began its business, Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan accused Speaker G Karthikeyan and his office of violation of rules by denying CPI(M) MLA V Sivankutty his right to seek a reply from the government on the "ice cream parlour case."Stongly refuting Achuthanandan's contention, Karthikeyan said he or his office did not commit any violation of rules of procudures in the matter.He said it was unfortunate that the Opposition had adopted an approach of finding their way by bringing the Speaker and the House under pressure, which could not be allowed.Achuthanandan was joined by CPI(M)'s Deputy Leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and Sivankutty.After about 10 minutes of exchanges, the opposition shed the subject and co-operated with the question hour.The scam, dating to 1990s, pertained to the allegation that a cool bar in Kozhikode was used as a cover for running a sex racket. Indian Union Muslim League leader and Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty had to resign from the cabinet after coming under the cloud of allegations in connection with the case in 2005.Though Kunhalikutty was never made an accused in the case, fresh allegations were hurled at him by a relative before the assembly polls and the LDF government, which was in power then, ordered a fresh investigaion in the case.