Chennai: The budget debate on Thursday was disrupted briefly over difference of opinion between the ruling AIADMK and opposition DMK on “who has the treated the Opposition as enemy while in power?”
Treasury benches and DMK members had heated exchanges that lasted nearly for 30 minutes in the House when state housing minister Vaithilingam dared the DMK for a debate on “who had treated the Opposition parties as enemy parties.”
“Can I recall from 1972 as to who had treated the Opposition party as enemy party?” the minister said, triggering uproar from the DMK members who wanted in expunged.
The minister was responding to DMK legislator Cumbam Ramakrishnan, who, while participating in the debate on demand for grants for public works department urged the treasury benches to not treat them as enemy parties but Opposition parties working constructively.
At one point, state electricity minister Natham Viswanathan even offered to make peace by asking the protesting DMK members as to which part of minister Vaithilingam’s statement they found derogatory and wanted expunged. The two party members made peace after the DMK legislature party leader M.K. Stalin signalled his party senior Duraimurugan and others to accede, allowing Cumbam Ramakrishnan to continue his discussion.
