Oppn boycotts Governor's address

Chennai, May 24: The first session of the 13th Legislative Assembly began on a discordant note with the entire Opposition, led by the AIADMK, boycotting the Governor's address in protest against various issues, including withdrawal of 'Z plus' security for Former Chief Minister and AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa.

Even before Governor S S Barnala could begin his customary address to the House at 0930 hrs, Deputy Leader of the Opposition K A Sengottaiyan stood up and raised several issues, including non- implementation of the government's poll promises.

After Mr Sengottaiyan completed his speech, the AIADMK members rushed to the well of the House and shouted slogans against the DMK Government, before staging a walkout along with the MDMK and the Dalit Panthers of India (DPI). They also boycotted the Governor's address.

Mr Sengottaiyan said the DMK Government had come to power in a deceitful manner by making false promises and cheating the voters.

At the swearing-in ceremony, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi announced waiver of all cooperative loans availed by farmers.But the State Cooperative Minister said there were legal implications to the issue, Mr Sengottaiyan pointed out and sought an explantion from the government.
Mr Sengotaiyan also sought to know why the new government was silent on waiving loans availed by tsunami-affected fishermen. He also questioned the government's silence in providing two acre of lands to landless farmers and free gas stoves to the poor people as promised in the DMK manifesto. Mr Sengottaiyan took a dig at the government for withdrawing the 'Z plus' security given to Ms Jayalalithaa and accused the new regime of adopting vindictive attitude.

He said the Centre had provided ''Z plus'' security to Ms Jayalalithaa as she had taken firm action against terrorists. But immediately after the new government assumed power in the State, the security cover was withdrawn.

Ms Jayalalithaa, who is heading a powerful Opposition, has no protection for her, he said and alleged the new government was indulging in politics of vendetta.

Alleging the law and order situation had deteriorated after the DMK came to power, Mr Sengottaiyan said the attack attempt on MDMK general secretary Vaiko near his residence and the police not acting against the complaints filed by Opposition party workers pointed to the fact.

Protesting against these issues, the AIADMK members trooped to the well of the house and shouted slogans denouncing the government.

Later the entire opposition led by the AIADMK and its allies, including the MDMK and the DPI staged a walkout and boycotted the address.

UNI