DMK boycotts ministers' replies opposing Speaker's ruling
The speech of the AIADMK member was not audible due to the din created by the DMK members.
Chennai: The DMK on Friday boycotted the replies of environment and information ministers protesting Speaker P. Dhanapal’s decision not to expunge the remarks of an AIADMK MLA, who made an indirect attack on DMK leader M. Karunanidhi’s family saying that it had developed itself by pretending to work for Tamil language and welfare of Tamils.
AIADMK MLA C.D. Rajendran who participated in the discussion in the demand for grants to the environment and information and publicity ministries, made an indirect attack on Karunanidhi’s family when he said some people had reaped benefits for the entire family by pretending to work for Tamil and welfare of Tamils. But, they shake hands with persons who had committed genocide of Tamils.
The DMK members were up on their feet and protested loudly demanding the removal of the remarks. Deputy Speaker V. Jayaraman tried to pacify the DMK members. The speech of the AIADMK member was not audible due to the din created by the DMK members. However, DMK whip R. Chakrapani explained the AIADMK member’s speech and said Rajendran was referring to Karunanidhi’s daughter Kanimozhi visiting Sri Lanka and shaking hands with island president Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Just then, Speaker Dhanapal took over the chair and promised to look into the record books and decide whether the remarks should be expunged or not. Leader of Opposition M.K. Stalin requested the Speaker to give his ruling on the same day. Just before the Information and Publicity minister started replying to the discussion, Stalin reminded the Speaker about the incident and requested him to give his ruling.
The Speaker said the AIADMK member did not name anyone. Besides, the remarks could not be expunged since they are not new and similar speeches had been recorded in the Assembly.