Chennai: Opposition DMK legislators were on Monday evicted from the Assembly following heated arguments between the Opposition and Speaker P. Dhanapal. It all began when AIADMK MLA of Alandur constituency V.N.P. Venkatraman participating in the discussion on the demand for grants for the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department, made a remark referring to DMK leader M. Karunanidhi without mentioning his name.
Intervening, DMK MLAs demanded the Deputy Speaker Pollachi V. Jayaraman to expunge the remark. Responding, Jayaraman said he would go through the script and take a decision. Subsequently Venkatraman informed the house that it was the DMK that urged state to hold Assembly session, but for political mileage and publicity every other day they stage a walkout.
To this, Opposition MLAs, led by DMK’s Durai Murgan, walked to the well of the House demanding that Venkatraman’s remarks be expunged. FM and House leader O. Panneerselvam intervened and said there was nothing wrong warranting expunction of remark by AIADMK MLA.
DMK members then trooped to the Speaker’s podium reiterating their demand. At one stage former DMK minister Thangam Thennarasu squatted on the floor raising slogans criticising the Speaker.
Despite the Speaker’s repeated warnings, opposition members refused to return to their seat. Dhanapal later ordered the marshals to remove the agitating members. Puthiya Thamizhagam MLA K. Krishnaswamy also staged a walkout stating that Opposition’s views were not encouraged in the Assembly. Just an hour before their eviction, DMK members had staged a walkout stating that 35 call attention notices moved by the Opposition were not discussed.
