Pressing for K M Mani's resignation, Left Democratic Front lays siege in front of secretariat

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Intensifying their agitation against state Finance Minister K M Mani, facing bribery allegations, CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front today laid a siege in front of the state secretariat here, pressing for his resignation.

The siege was also to seek action against members of the Assembly, who allegedly misbehaved with women MLAs during the ruckus in the house on March 13 during budget presentation.

LDF members had tried to prevent the FM from presenting the budget that day.

Hundreds of LDF activists, volunteers and MLAs converged at the Secretariat early this morning, blocked all four gates and raised slogans against the UDF government and demanded the resignation of the Finance Minister.

At least four MLAs, including V Sivankutty, were arrested and removed by police.

Though the protestors tried to block all the gates of the secretariat, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and state ministers, with police help, managed to enter the complex to attend to office work, including the weekly cabinet meeting.

CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, who inaugurated the siege at the main gate of the Secretariat, alleged that the administration had come to a standstill and despite an FIR being filed against Mani five months back, he had not yet been arrested and was continuing as minister.

"It is five months since an FIR was registered against Mani. He has not been arrested so far," he said.

"There are two types of rules-- one for the ruling front and the other for the opposition," Balakrishnan alleged.

The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau had recently registered a case against Mani in connection with the charge that he had accepted bribe from bar owners to renew liquor licences.

Taking a dig at the CM's mass contact programme held two days ago, the CPI(M) leader said common people had to wait 'for hours' in wheelchairs and stretchers to meet Chandy.

He alleged that people were coming to the secretariat in the evening to try and bribe ministers to curry favours.

LDF workers also laid seige in front of the 13 district collectorates.