Privilege move against Jayalalithaa

Chennai, May 29 (UNI) A privilege issue against Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK General Secretary J Jayalalithaa for allegedly giving "misleading information" to the press about the Assembly proceedings on May 26 without even attending the House was today referred to the Privileges Committee by Speaker R Avudiappan.

Shortly after the House passed a condolence resolution on the loss of thousands of lives in the Indonesian earthquake, Electricty Minister Arcot N Veerasamy raised the privilege issue against Ms Jayalalithaa for making statements "contrary to the truth" about the House proceedings.

He said on May 26, when Congress Member Peter Alphonse was speaking in the House, the AIADMK members "deliberately interrupted him and indulged in violence by attacking a Congress member and breaking a microphone.'' Even after all the AIADMK MLAs were evicted from the Assembly on the Speaker's orders, Mr Sekar Babu (AIADMK) barged into the House again and attempted to attack Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.

Health Minister K K S S R Ramachandran and DMK Member Karuppusamy Pandiyan formed a security ring around the Chief Minister and protected him.

But Ms Jayalalithaa, who did not attend the House on the day, told the press that only Congress and DMK MLAs attacked her party members, he said.

The interview had not only appeared in AIADMK party organ 'Namadhu MGR,' it was also telecast repeatedly on Jaya TV.

He requested the Speaker to refer the issue to the Privileges Commitee and take suitable action against her.

Speaker Avudiappan said prima facie there was a case for privilege move and referred the issue to the Privileges Committee for further action.

Meanwhile, MDMK members staged a walkout from the House in protest against the en masse suspension of AIADMK MLAs.

Citing the Assembly Rule 117, MDMK Floor Leader M Kannappan said the Speaker could name the members who obstructed the proceedings and suspend only those who indulged in violence.

The Speaker cannot suspend all the MLAs, he said and urged Mr Avudaiappan to reconsider his decision.

Intervening, Mr Alphonse said Rule 117 conferred enough powers on the Speaker to enforce discipline in the House.

Mr Veerasamy said none had the authority to question the verdict of the Speaker.

Mr Avudiappan said the resolution on suspension was passed unanimously by the House and none had right to question it.

Saying the move amounted to stifling the voice of democracy, the MDMK members walked out of the House. The DPI later followed suit.

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