THANKS to the geography of Kerala, yatras organised by various political parties from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram touch almost all districts in a straight line. Many leaders had organised yatras (processions) in the past in order to propagate their respective ideologies. But a yatra, christened as Janapaksha Yatra, organised and led by state Congress president V M Sudheeran to propagate among others the need of prohibition in the state not only failed to make an impact but it also became a laughing stock to all including Congress men and women. The slogans of the yatra, which started from Kumbala in Kasaragod on November 4, are ‘Alcohol free Kerala’, ‘Violence free Kerala’, ‘Developed Kerala’, and ‘Secular Kerala’. Sudheeran in his speeches focussed on the proposed ban on liquor. But pouring water on the Congress president’s attempt to mobilise people in favour of ban on liquor, many of his party colleagues leaked stories to the media that funds for the yatra were collected from the bar owners. The news broke when the yatra reached Thrissur. A section of media published the copy of a receipt for funds a bar owner in Thiruvilwamala in Thrissur had donated. Sudheeran, who claims to be a leader of ordinary Congress workers and opponent to all leaders who pamper their own groups, had also been left out in the cold by several party leaders like Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Home Minister and former state Congress president Ramesh Chennithala. Followers of Chandy and Chennithala had not been enthusiastic to welcome the yatra at the centres of reception. Many leaders were suspended by Sudheeran for not mobilising Congress workers to greet the yatra. No massive gathering occurred anywhere in the state. But the collection of funds for the yatra is continuing unhindered. The very next day, another jolt was given by a senior Congress leader. Lilly Raju, Mahila Congress district vice-president, revealed that Congress leaders had collected huge amount of money with bogus receipts. She said that 1,500 donation coupons of the value of Rs 1,000 each had been distributed in a single booth. Senior leader K Muralidharan too joined the attacks on the Janapaksha Yatra and said the party had gained nothing from it and “it is a non-political exercise. There is no coordination between state Congress president and the chief minister”. As the yatra moved towards southern districts more such issues came up. One automobile showroom was attacked by the Congress workers for denying the request for donations. Bribe for Bar: LDF Stages Walkout in Assembly THE bribe for bar controversy involving Finance Minister K M Mani reverberated in the Kerala Legislative Assembly on the first day of the winter session on December 1. When speaker G Karthikeyan denied permission for discussion on an adjournment motion and suspension of the Question Hour, Left Democratic Front MLAs staged a walkout. Deputy leader of Opposition Kodiyeri Balakrishnan sought the speaker’s permission for a discussion on the matter, citing more evidence in the bribery case. LDF has demanded resignation Kerala Congress Leader Mani. The House also witnessed protests on a few occasions when some LDF members moved towards the Well of the House with a banner demanding Mani's resignation during the Zero Hour. Kodiyeri charged the Congress-led UDF government with protecting Mani by deliberately delaying the preliminary quick examination by the vigilance on the bribery charges made by a bar owner. Challenging the government on the issue, Balakrishnan said he has a compact disc (CD) containing evidence to support the bar scam and he was ready to place it on the table of the House. The LDF wanted the government to register an FIR and case against Mani under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act as enough evidence on the bribery has come out. The LDF demanded resignation or removal of Mani from the Ministry. Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said that there was no move on the part of the government to shield any person and the probe into the case was progressing as per Supreme Court guidelines and Vigilance manuals. (EOM)