Remarks against Jaya creates furore

Chennai, Aug 31: Pandemonium broke out in the Tamil Nadu assembly for a brief time, but an ugly turn of events was averted thanks to the timely intervention of Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.

AIADMK members, irked by a remark by a ruling party member against Ms Jayalalithaa, rushed to the well of the House with former Minister D Jayakumar, staging a dharna, squatting in front of the Speaker's podium, but the tense situation was quickly defused, following Mr Karunanidhi's intervention.

The trouble started when Mr Gandhi (DMK), participating in the debate, alleged that the Public Works Department was misused to lay roads for the wedding of Ms Jayalalithaa's estranged foster son, triggering a bout of protest from the AIADMK benches.

Intervening, Mr Karunanidhi said, whatever Mr Gandhi said during the fag end of his speech was totally unnecessary and those remarks could be expunged. After requesting the Speaker to expunge the remarks, he appealed to the AIADMK members to help to continue the proceedings in a smooth manner.

UNI