Tamil Nadu Assembly witnesses DMK protest

CHENNAI: Handloom minister O.S. Manian’s remarks on Thursday triggered a furore in the Assembly with DMK members protesting vociferously demanding that the remarks be expunged. They rushed to the Speaker’s podium and shouted slogans for about 45 minutes, while the Speaker repeatedly assured to look into the remarks and give his ruling later. At one point of time, leader of Opposition M.K. Stalin threatened to boycott the reply of finance minister O. Panneerselvam.

While Speaker P. Dhanapal insisted that the Opposition could not impose their whims and fancies on him, Duraimurugan who was speaking in the budget discussion refused to resume his speech till the minister’s remarks are expunged. Finally, a compromise formula suggested by Duraimurugan that the Speaker should direct the media not to publish Manian’s remarks till he gave his ruling was accepted by the Speaker and the commotion was settled.

Earlier, when Duraimurugan criticised the law and order situation in the state, handlooms minister O.S. Manian made the remarks which was opposed by the DMK, which said that the matter was sub-judice.  Duraimurugan also made counter remarks which was immediately expunged by the Speaker. However, Stalin objected to the Speaker’s action and said the remarks of the minister as well as Duraimurugan should be expunged or both should be on Assembly record.

But, the Speaker said the minister’s remarks were not sub-judice as he had not gone into the case. But, the DMK members contended that Duraimurugan’s remarks were also similar. At this juncture, finance minister and leader of the House O. Panneerselvam requested the Speaker to consider the DMK members’ demand. The Speaker said he would look into the remarks and give his ruling later.

The DMK members objected to it and rushed to the Speaker’s podium, shouting slogans. The Speaker asserted that he could not be forced to accept the DMK’s dictum and asked Duraimurugan to resume his speech. However, Duraimurugan stood his ground and said he would not continue his speech till the Speaker expunged the minister’s remarks.