UDF, Government of Kerala, Hema Committee Report, UDF, LDF, Kerala, Latest News

The Opposition’s accusation came after Speaker AN Shamseer refused permission for a notice from the UDF MLAs to adjourn the House of Representatives and discuss the issue of alleged lack of further investigation into the findings in the report.

During the meeting, Transport Minister KB Ganesh Kumar stated that the accident involving a KSRTC bus that fell into the river in Kozhikode was not due to negligence of the driver. He explained that the vehicle swerved to avoid a motorcyclist, and despite the driver’s best efforts to avoid the accident, the bus slid into the river.

Shamseer said the permission was denied as the issue was being actively considered by the Kerala High Court.

Opposition Leader VD Satheesan, who strongly protested against the Speaker’s decision, alleged that the notice was moved because Shamseer himself had said that the issue should not be raised as a question in the House of Representatives and called for a submission or something to be submitted otherwise.

“It is an insult to the House if we do not discuss this issue, which affects women. We protest strongly against this and walk away. The government is on the defensive on this issue and that is why it is not discussed in Parliament. he claimed, and the UDF staged a strike.

The Justice K Hema Committee was formed by the Kerala government following the 2017 sexual assault on actresses and the report that exposed cases of harassment and exploitation of women in the Malayalam film industry.

Following the allegations of sexual harassment and exploitation against several actors and directors in the wake of the report’s disclosure, the state government on August 25 announced the formation of a seven-member special investigation team to probe them.

Later, when the issue reached the Kerala High Court, it attracted the Left government in the state, saying its inaction on the Justice Hema Committee report was “alarmingly lethargic”.

The court had said that the government had received the report over four years ago and should have responded immediately, directing that the entire report be handed over to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to take required action in accordance with law. PTI