AIADMK members stage walkout twice

Chennai, Apr 28 (UNI) The main opposition AIADMK today staged a walkout from the Tamil Nadu Assembly twice during zero hour.

Soon after question hour, the AIADMK members made a vain bid to raise a breach of privilege issue against Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.

As Speaker R Avudaiyappan refused permission stating that it was under his consideration, the AIADMK members staged a walk out.

The second walk out came about an hour later and amid pandemonium after the Speaker refused permission to them for raising a point of order after Mr Peter Alphonse (Congress) charged leader of the Opposition and AIADMK Supremo J Jayalalithaa with treason for her vituperative attack on Chief Minister, his government, the Central government, Tamil Nadu Governor and the state DGP.

Raising the issue, Mr Alphonse read out the contents of Ms Jayalalithaa's statement, triggering protests from the AIADMK.

The House plunged into pandemonium as all the members were up on their feet. Nothing could be heard in the din, as the AIADMK took objection to Mr Alphonse's remark.

Mr Alphonse said Jayalalithaa had threatened both the police and government officials of dire consequence once she comes back to power.

''This intimidation amounted to preventing the officials from carrying out their duties and she could be penalised under the Sec 353 of IPC. She also instigated the officials to revolt against the democratically-elected government which amounted to treason'', triggering instant protests from the AIADMK.

After their repeated pleas to raise a point of order did not yield any result, AIADMK whip K A Sengottaiyan staged his party members out of the House. AIADMK's ally MDMK also followed suit.

UNI