The Kerala assembly on Monday passed a resolution alleging that chief minister V S Achuthanandan and his ministers were slighted during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's three-day visit to the state in February.
This is the first time the assembly is passing such a resolution.
The House witnessed uproarious scenes when CPM member A Anandan raised the issue through a submission. Congress-led UDF members strongly opposed this leading to heated verbal exchanges. Later Opposition members staged a walkout.
Intervening in the discussion the chief minister said he was not allowed to occupy his room in Taj Hotel in Kochi, where the Prime Minister stayed, on the night of Feb 10.
He said he had to shift to the government guest house. Calling it a "big shame" LDF members said it was an insult to the state.
They also alleged that the chief minister's name was not inscribed on the plaque which was unveiled during the inauguration of the new terminal of Thiruvananthapuram International Airport.
Even in the advertisement given to local dailies the Achuthanandan's photo was not there.
{{/usCountry}}Even in the advertisement given to local dailies the Achuthanandan's photo was not there.
{{/usCountry}}Some of them asked how Congress president Sonia Gandhi figured so prominently in the advertisement while the chief minister was dropped completely.
Soon ministers C Divakaran and Elamarom Kareem also explained their experiences.
They said they were stopped at the gates of Brahmos Aerospace unit when they accompanied the PM.
Later law minister M Vijayakumar said the state would appraise the centre of its displeasure.
However Opposition leader Oommen Chandy stoutly denied these allegations.
He said LDF members were raking up a non-issue and unnecessarily dragging the Prime Minister's name into the controversy.