DMK walks out over AIADMK MLAs' payoff row

CHENNAI: DMK working president M.K. Stalin, along with party members, walked out from the Assembly on Friday charging Speaker P. Dhanapal with not allowing a debate on allegations of the bribing of AIADMK MLAs during the confidence vote in February despite his giving the evidence.

Displaying a CD in his hand, Stalin who raised the issue said the Speaker should permit a discussion on the allegations. The Speaker’s reply to Stalin was expunged following a request by finance minister D. Jayakumar.

Opposing the Speaker’s decision, Stalin and party members walked out of the Assembly. Speaking to the media, he said the DMK had been raising the issue for the last two days during the zero hour. The Speaker had been refusing permission to discuss the issue. The Speaker had said no discussion could be allowed without evidence.

The DMK leader claimed that the CD in his hand had the evidence for payment of bribing AIADMK MLAs during the February voting. He also said he was ready to submit the CD at the Assembly or in the Speaker’s chamber, but the Speaker refused permission to raise the subject, he said. Alleging that there is no democracy in the Assembly, Stalin said his party members had walked out condemning the Speaker’s decision.

Stalin asserted that the allegations of horse-trading were true and described it as a great shame to the state. Duraimurugan, who was accompanying Stalin said Jayakumar is interfering in the decision of Speaker. When a Speaker gives a ruling, no one including the Chief Minister could intervene, he added.

After the end of the day’s proceedings, Stalin went to the Speaker’s chamber and submitted the CD. Later, the DMK members returned to the Assembly to take part in the discussion on demands for grants.