P Dhanapal steps in, spares 7 DMK MLAs of action

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker P. Dhanapal on Friday asked the House to withdraw the resolution moved recommending suspension of seven DMK MLAs, who created a ruckus during the February 18 trust vote sought by Edappadi K. Palaniswami, and other action maintaining that the legislators have expressed regret over the incident.

The Speaker had referred to the Privileges Committee headed by Deputy Speaker Pollachi V. Jayaraman the behaviour of the seven DMK MLAs and action to be taken against them. The MLAs against whom the complaint was filed was S Ambeth Kumar, K S Masthan, K S Ravichandran, N Suresh Rajan, K Karthikeiyan, P Murugan and Ku Ka Selvam.
The leader of the House and school education minister K. A. Sengottaiyan moved a motion that the House accepted the recommendations, which also included the freezing of the MLAs' salary and other perks during the six month suspension period.

Mr Sengottaiyan said it will also send across a message to those who think that speaker's democratic duty can be “prevented using violence and intimidation,” and that the said recommendations could serve as a “lesson” for other members of the House. While thanking the House for taking up his cause, the Speaker said the seven DMK members, six of them being the first time MLAs had met him on Wednesday and expressed regret over the incidents.

“They have also given apology letter and assured they will not repeat them in the future,” Dhanapal said. After Mr Dhanapal's request, the resolution was withdrawn. At this juncture, Opposition leader M. K. Stalin thanked and praised the speaker for his “generosity”, and recalled that he had regretted the DMK members' unruly action, if any, during the trust vote. DMK's allies, Congress and Indian Union Muslim League, also praised the speaker.

Later, Dhanapal said he had made an effort for a healthy debate of opinions and suggested that with such an orderly style, the Tamil Nadu Assembly could set an example on conducting smooth proceedings. All members were of the opinion that the House should be an example to the rest of the country.