Chennai: DMK member Sudarsanam’s speech complaining about civic problems and environmental issues in Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa’s constituency R.K. Nagar was strongly opposed by the AIADMK members leading to noisy scenes in the Assembly on Friday.
Sudarsanam said the oil pipes laid by IOC in Tondiarpet were leaking leading to ground water pollution. Environment minister K.C. Karuppannan denied the charges and said the damaged pipes had been removed recently.
When he continued to speak about other issues in R.K. Nagar, Leader of the House O. Panneerselvam objected to the DMK member’s speech on the Chief Minister’s constituency and made a strong remark.
Panneerselvam’s remarks were strongly opposed by the DMK members who demanded that they should be expunged. Intervening, Stalin repeated the same remarks made by Panneerselvam. Stalin’s remarks were immediately expunged.
Continuing his speech, Stalin said the MLA could speak about R.K. Nagar since over 55,000 people in the area had voted for his party. Panneerselvam replied that the DMK member could not speak without any evidence. He said the AIADMK members could speak about Karunanidhi’s constituency and asked if such a debate was needed.
He said MLAs should speak on the demand or the problems in their own constituency and asked why the DMK member was harping on issues in Jayalalithaa’s constituency.
Stalin said Panneerselvam’s remarks should also be removed since the same remark made by him was expunged. At this juncture, Panneerselvam intervened and requested the Speaker to expunge his remarks too and the Speaker accepted the plea. Later, Local Administration minister S.P. Velumani said the DMK member should not speak anything without any basis or evidence.
