CM pulls up Minister for remarks against AIADMK

Chennai, Apr 12 (UNI) A remark made by Tamil Nadu Public Works Minister Duraimurugan against the opposition AIADMK created a din in the House, prompting Chief Minister M Karunanidhi to mildly pull him up for creating an 'unnecessary' controversy in the Assembly.

It all began when Mr Chinnaraj (AIADMK), while participating in a debate on the demand for grant of Local Administration Department, praised the late AIADMK founder M G Ramachandran and party General Secretary J Jayalalithaa.

Mr Duraimurugan sought to know why the AIADMK members, who reacted with a loud applause when Ms Jayalalithaa was heaped praises, chose to remain silent when a reference was made to 'MGR.' This evoked loud protest from AIADMK members. Mr Chinnaraj said the DMK, which had criticised 'MGR', had no locus standi to talk about him now.

Information and Publicity Minister Parithi Ilamvazhuthi said the name of MGR had not been mentioned even once during the previous AIADMK regime, triggering trading of charges between the treasury and opposition benches.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition O Panneerselvam said only after the DMK sacked MGR from the party, the AIADMK was founded.

Seeking to put an end to the issue, Mr Karunanidhi mildly chided Mr Duraimurugan for creating an unnecessary confusion in the House, by pointing out to the difference in AIADMK members' responses to the names of MGR and Ms Jayalalithaa.

He also regretted that a particular remark about MGR was made in the House. Following his request, Speaker R Avudaiyappan expunged the remark from Assembly records.

UNI