AIADMK stages walk out from Assembly over Speaker's action

Chennai, Aug 11 (UNI) The main opposition AIADMK today staged a walkout from the Tamil Nadu Assembly in protest against the Speaker's action of allowing a CPI(M) member to intervene their party member's maiden speech.

Participating in the debate on the demand for grants for Local Administration and Rural Development, Mr T Malaravan (AIADMK) said the Drinking water supply scheme in Tiruppur was implemented by the erstwhile AIADMK Government by allotting enough funds.

Objecting to it Mr Govindasamy (CPI-M), said the foundation was laid by the MGR Government in 1983. But the scheme was implemented by the DMK regime headed by M Karunanidhi in 1989 with an allocation of Rs 20 crore.

AIADMK Whip K A Sengottaiyan objected to Mr Govindasamy and asked how he could interrupt a member's maiden speech, that too without raising a point of order.

The issue led to noisy scenes and a wordy duel ensued between the Opposition and the Treasury benches, before Mr Sengottaiyan led his party members out of the House for allowing the CPI(M) to speak.

Electricity Minister Arcot N Veerasamy said the AIADMK had staged a walk out, unable to have the heart to listen to the maiden reply to the debate of Local Administration Minister M K Stalin.

Mr V Sivapunniya (CPI) urged the Speaker to convene the Business Advisory Committee to ensure that the AIADMK members conduct themselves properly in the house.

Congress Legislature Party leader D Sudarsanam condemned the AIADMK's action of staging walkouts daily and said they were not talking about the demands, but were only speaking about the achievements of the previous AIADMK regime.

PMK floor Leader G K Mani said the walkout was stage-managed.

When Mr Govindasamy said the AIADMK members were using bad remarks against him, Speaker R Avuidaiyappan said if he gives a written complaint against the member and the nature of remark made by him, he would initiate action.

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