The Opposition in Kerala has been demanding the resignation of Excise minister, K Babu over corruption charges.
Stepping up its agitation against the United Democratic Front (UDF) government in the bar bribery scam, CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) opposition today targeted minister, K Babu, and disrupted the first day of the Assembly proceedings demanding his resignation.
Excise Minister Mr Babu is a close confidant of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. He is the second minister facing charges of accepting bribe from bar owners. Earlier, Kerala Congress (M) KM Mani was forced to resign as Finance Minister in the bar case.
As the protest continued, the House was adjourned for the day after transacting the businesses scheduled.
The first session, after Mr Mani's resignation following stinging court observations, saw Opposition targetting the excise minister in the bar case.
The 82-year-old from the Kerala Congress (M) is the leader of the third largest partner in the ruling Congress-led UDF. Mr Mani was conspicuous by his absence on the first day of the 11-day session, considered to be the penultimate before the state gears up for assembly polls early next year.
The trouble began during zero hour, when the Opposition sought to move an adjournment motion demanding a comprehensive inquiry into the allegation of bar owners that Mr Babu had received Rs 10 crore as bribe for reducing the proposed license fee of bar hotels.
Seeking to move the motion, deputy opposition leader, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan (CPI-M) said any inquiry against Mr Babu, as long as he continues to be a minister, would not be fruitful.
"So, Babu should be removed from the cabinet, vigilance should register a case and a comprehensive inquiry ordered into the allegations against him," he said.
However, both Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala and Mr Babu rejected the opposition charges as 'baseless' and said the government had decided not to have a further probe into the matter after holding a proper preliminary inquiry.