Veerappan reference triggers noisy scenes

Chennai, Aug 10: A remark by an Opposition member while talking about the killing of Forest Brigand Veerappan, which was later expunged by the Speaker, triggered noisy scenes in the Tamil Nadu Assembly today.

Participating in the demand for grants for Forest department, Mr R Vaithialingam (AIADMK) said the ending of the Veerappan menace was one of the biggest achievements of the previous regime headed by J Jayalalithaa.

The AIADMK government also honoured all the STF personnel by giving them promotions and awards, he said and added that there were reports of another Veerappan emerging in the forest areas.

Responding to this, Electricity Minister Arcot N Veerasamy said the government would take stern action against such elements.

Setting the tone for a noisy debate, Mr T Velmurugan (PMK) intervened and asked whether Veerappan was shot dead or poisoned to death. He also sought to know whether the AIADMK was prepared to face a CBI probe into it.

After AIADMK whip K A Sengottaiyan said the party was ready to face the challenge, Mr Veerasamy said whether the Brigand was poisoned to death or shot dead, his menace had been ended.

He recalled the efforts taken by the then DMK government with the help of the Centre to secure the safe release of Kannada matinee idol Dr Rajkumar from the clutches of Veerappan and said there was no need to talk about the past.

Mr Veerasamy sought to put an end to the issue stating that the government would deal with poachers with an iron hand and against those who kill the elephants.
As the Veerappan issue, abated a remark by Mr Vaithialingam on the fire in the Tamil Nadu Sandalwood depot a few years back and the subsequent probe report, led to a verbal duel between the Ruling and Opposition party members. Mr Vaithialingam said the Raman Commission, which probed the mishap, had stated that the incident was an act of sabotage.

Intervening, Higher Education Minister K Ponmudi retorted by recalling how Wildlife Warden Rajendran was harassed by the previous AIADMK government and the subsequent observations on the issue.

Pandemonium ensued and Speaker R Avudaiyappan sought to put an end to the issue by asking Mr Vaithialingam to switch over to the other topic.

Talking about State autonomy, the AIADMK member said environment clearances were being given by the Centre without the NOC from the State Government and wanted to know whether the state had compromised on its policy. He also pointed out that DMK Minister was in-charge of Environment and Forests at the Centre.

Intervening, Mr Veerasamy said there was no question of DMK diluting its stand on State Autonomy.

After Mr Vaithialingam's speech, Congress Legislature Party leader D Sudarsanam rose up and said the UPA government headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would complete its full five year term and the DMK would be part of it.

He was replying to Mr Vaithialingam's remark, made during the course of his speech, urging the State Government to ''soon'' get permission from the Centre for two tiger sanctuaries in the State.

Forest Minister N Selvaraj said the Centre had given its approval for Annamalai and Mudumalai tiger sanctuary two days back.

UNI