Pandemonium breaks out in TN Assembly

Chennai, Mar 27: Pandemonium broke out in Tamil Nadu Assembly today when members of the ruling DMK and the opposition AIADMK clashed over the Cauvery issue, leading to a walkout by the AIADMK.

Participating in a debate on the state Budget for 2007-08, Mr Kumaraguru (AIADMK) said Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had acted against the interest of Tamil Nadu on the Cauvery issue.

However, Speaker R Avudaiyappan expunged a particular term used by him against the Chief Minister, after DMK members raised objection to it.

Intervening, Public Works Minister Duraimurugan alleged that it was former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa who 'betrayed' Tamil Nadu on the Cauvery issue.

It was due to Mr Karunanidhi's toil that the state had achieved victory in the vexed matter, he said. ''It was not Ms Jayalalithaa, but 'Kalaignar' (Mr Karunanidhi) who had held talks with various Karnataka Chief Ministers and also impressed upon the Centre to constitute the Tribunal,'' he added.

The AIADMK members were immediately on their feet, protesting against the Minister mentioning their leader, who was also the leader of the opposition, by name.

They insisted that the Minister should refer the leader of the opposition with the prefix 'honourable' as per Assembly norms.

Members of both treasury and opposition benches shouted at one another, creating din in the House.

Intervening, Electricity Minister Arcot N Veerasamy cited a report in a daily that the AIADMK's State Secretary in Karnataka had presented a memorandum to Chief Minister D Kumarasamy, extending support to him on the Cauvery issue. ''How could the AIADMK justify this double-standards'', he asked. Deputy Leader of the opposition O Panneerselvam said the final award of the Tribunal, which had been got after 16 long years, was against the interest of the state.

Stating that the AIADMK had given a notice for adjournment motion to discuss the issue in the House, he urged the Speaker to allow it in order to elicit the views of all political parties in the matter.

Everyone knew who betrayed Tamil Nadu on the Cauvery issue, he said and complained that his party was being denied the chance to speak.

He also said Mr Duraimurugan had set a wrong precedent by referring the leader of the opposition by name.

Mr Duraimurugan countered that he referred Ms Jayalalithaa only as leader of the opposition but during the previous AIADMK regime, such norms had not been observed.

Intervening, CPI floor leader V Sivapunniyam said the AIADMK was attempting to politicise the Cauvery issue. It was a life and death problem for the people and the final award had been obtained after a long struggle. But, the AIADMK was indulging in useless arguments, he charged.

Following this, the Speaker called upon a DMK member to speak in the debate. As a mark of protest, the AIADMK members walked out of the House, but returned in a few minutes.

UNI