Tamil Nadu Assembly witnesses noisy scenes

Chennai: Scathing attack on DMK chief M. Karunanidhi by the ruling AIADMK members on issues of Cauvery, corruption and Sri Lankan Tamils triggered verbal clashes between the two parties leading to commotion and noisy scenes in the Assembly on Monday.

Senior AIADMK member S. Semmalai, who moved the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address, began the proceedings with stinging attacks on Karunanidhi, keeping the DMK senior leaders including Leader of Opposition M.K. Stalin and his deputy K. Duraimurugan on their toes.

When Semmalai mentioned the DMK chief’s name, the DMK members who were on their feet objected to it, but Semmalai asked, “How should he be addressed? He is not even the Opposition Leader.” Leader of the House O. Panneerselvam too supported Semmalai and said “His name is Karunanidhi. How should he be addressed?”

Duraimurugan said the term honourable should be used before Karunanidhi and asked if the name of Jayalalithaa could be mentioned. But, Speaker P. Dhanapal said the name of the Chief Minister should not be mentioned as per rule.

Citing Karunanidhi’s comments on Governor’s address that it is contradictory, Semmalai said the DMK leader had proved himself contradicting on every issue.

The DMK leader is shedding crocodile tears for Sri Lankan Tamils, but he did not stop the massacre of the island Tamils when it occurred.

However, Stalin intervened and defended Karunanidhi saying that AIADMK supreme J. Jayalalithaa commenting on the Lankan military offensive had remarked that people would die during war. He also added that Jayalalithaa wanted the extradition of LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran.

Semmalai, who continued, said, “The actions of Karunanidhi are contradictory. The DMK leader is opposing Sanskrit, but the names of his grand-children and their children are in Sanskrit. Karunanidhi compromised on the Cauvery issue and allowed construction of dams like Hemavathy across the Cauvery”.

At this juncture, Duraimurugan said the construction of Hemavathy dam was allowed with the condition that the quantity of water released to TN should not be affected.

But, Semmalai asked, “How will water come to Tamil Nadu when a dam is constructed?” and added that the DMK’s stand on Cauvery is contradictory.
Later, AIADMK member Rajan Chellappa, speaking on the discussion on the motion of thanks to Governor’s speech, cited the demand for setting up of Lokayukta by the DMK.

He recalled the setting up of Sarkaria Commission to enquire into the corrupt activities of Karunanidhi government from 1971 to 1976 and said the DMK do not have locus standi to speak on corruption.

Strongly objecting to the reference of Sarkaria Commission and demanding that the Speaker expunge the remarks, the DMK members shouted slogans and stood near the Speaker’s podium. Noisy scenes were witnessed, but Rajan Chellappa continued his speech, not heard due to din and commotion.