Chennai: Leader of Opposition M.K. Stalin on Monday took exception to fisheries minister D. Jayakumar barb against DMK that it has no locus standi to talk about the arrest of Tamil Nadu fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy.
Participating in the debate on the demands for the grants for fisheries and dairy development department in the Assembly, DMK’s Thiruvottiyur MLA K.P.P. Samy said that his party president M. Karunanidhi when he was the chief minister took steps for the immediate release of fishermen arrested by Lankan navy.
Intervening in the debate, Mr Jayakumar noted that former chief minister termed those fishermen who had drifted into Sri Lanka waters greedy fishermen.
“Despite our strong opposition, the then Speaker had refused to expunge those words. Hence you (DMK) don’t have any locus standi on the issue,” he said. Objecting to the minister’s choice of words, Mr Stalin wondered what locus standi does the minister have to say, “we don’t have it”.
Mr Jayakumar responded that there is no other words to explain it. DMK leader said that Jayakumar being a senior member of the house he did not expect it from him. “I request to avoid use of such words,” he said. Fisheries minister noted that 10 fishermen were killed and 27 injured during the DMK rule but nobody was killed nor injured in the AIADMK rule.
