Chennai: DMK walks out of Assembly, again

Chennai: The opposition DMK made a vain bid to raise the violence during the anti-Sterlite protests in Thoothukudi, in the Assembly yet again, but staged a walkout after they were refused to speak on the subject since an enquiry into the incidents is on and also because the matter is sub judice.

Declining permission to raise the issue in the Assembly, Speaker P. Dhanapal said much has been said on the subject and Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami had even responded by giving a detailed reply in the Assembly. 

Much of what the DMK working president M. K. Stalin said on the May 22 incidents were expunged from Assembly records. Protesting against not being allowed to raise the issue, Stalin, accompanied by his party members staged a walkout.

Later, Mr. Palaniswami said the DMK should approach the one-person enquiry commission headed by retired judge of the Madras High Court Justice Aruna Jagadesan, probing the violence, and make a submission before her. Stating a case relating to the issue was pending before the Madras High Court, the CM said it was normal practice not to debate issues that were sub judice, in the Assembly. Quoting Assembly rules, the Speaker said there would be no discussion on matters being probed by an inquiry panel.

Later, speaking to reporters outside the Assembly, Stalin alleged the enquiry commission was an “eye-wash.” Demanding a CBI probe into the May 22 incidents, he said his party would approach the court on the subject. When pointed out that the CM had clearly stated that issues that are sub judice could not be raised in the Assembly, Mr. Stalin shot back, “then why should we come to the Assembly... this inquiry commission itself is an eye-wash. We don't accept it. Therefore we insist that the CBI should probe the matter.”