When a ‘clown’ and ‘psycho’ left Assembly in splits

Apparently firing verbal volleys at a few in the Opposition, Ms Indira said, “A black shawl clad psycho without cadres, a clown from Koyambedu, a Kazhagam run for a family and two others who show off as china ayya and periya ayya,” were criticising her Amma’s (chief minister Jayalalithaa) government without actually knowing about the achievements. Very few in the treasury benches managed to resist a real belly laugh after hearing the minister’s near rib-tickler.

Left party MLAs led by A. Soundararajan rose to their feet, objecting to the word psycho, only to be muted by Speaker Dhanapal who assured to spare a minute after the labour minister P. Mohan’s reply. The Chair, however, refused to expunge the word. But, it was Gokula Indira’s subsequent justification that left most in the House jaw dropped. “I never uttered any name or mentioned any one in particular,” said Ms Indira. The reply left a few murmuring on the Assembly corridors, of course, with a broad grin on their countenance.

For the second day in succession, Opposition parties including DMK and CPI(M) on Wednesday staged a walkout in Tamil Nadu Assembly. They protested against the Chair denying permission to rake up among other issues Mekedatu dam, NLC employees stir and communal clash in Seshasamudram village.