Chennai: Remarks by local Administration minister S.P. Velumani that the classical Tamil conference held during the DMK regime was a family affair triggered vociferous protests from the DMK members who staged a walkout from the Assembly on Wednesday.
DMK MLA Mrs Seethapathy of Tindivanam, who spoke in the discussion on demand for grants to social welfare ministry recalled the classical Tamil conference as one of the achievements of her party government. She also went on to list the measures of the previous DMK government for the welfare of women, children and other depressed sections in the state.
She said it was DMK chief M. Karunanidhi who introduced five eggs per week in noon meal scheme, besides bringing the slum clearance board. She also said the DMK government introduced medical insurance scheme for the poor, varumun kaapome scheme and financial assistance for pregnant people. She said the DMK government constructed samathuvapuram to help people of all communities live in one place, besides enacting a law to make people belonging to communities as Archagas.
After she completed her speech, Velumani said everyone knew that the classical Tamil conference was held as a family affair. Immediately, the DMK members were on their feet protesting against the minister’s remarks. DMK whip Chakrapani demanded that the remarks be expunged.
But, Speaker P. Dhanapal refused to accept the DMK’s demand and said the minister had not said nothing new and similar opinions are already in Assembly record. The minister who continued his speech, said the DMK government did not give colour televisions to all the families and most of the given televisions got damaged after some time.
The DMK MLAs started protesting louder and rushed to the Speaker’s podium. The AIADMK members too stood up opposing the DMK members. After persisting with their demand to remove the minister’s remarks, the DMK members trooped out of the House.
