Thiruvananthapuram, Wednesday 3 December 2008: As V S Achuthanandan came under attack for his controversial remarks against the family of slain NSG officer Sandeep Unnikrishnan, the UDF tried to raise the issue in the Kerala assembly but a discussion on it was put off for today as the chief minister was not present in the House.

At the beginning of zero hour, opposition leader Oommen Chandy sought to move an adjournment motion on the issue and wanted an explanation from the government over reports that Achuthanandan had shown disrespect to the family of Sandeep who laid down his life fighting terrorists in Mumbai. Speaker K Radhakrishnan, however, said it was not proper to take up the matter as Achuthanandan, about whose statement the opposition wanted a discussion, was not present.

The UDF members, however, insisted for a response from the government since Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, who accompanied Achuthanandan to Sandeep’s house in Bangalore, was present in the House.

At this juncture, Balakrishnan said he agreed with the Speaker’s views that this was not a matter of urgent administrative concern and nothing would happen if it was kept for today. In view of the varied reports on the issue, it was proper that the discussion took place in Achuthanandan’s presence, the minister said.