AIADMK stages walkout

Chennai, Apr 21 (UNI) The Opposition AIADMK today staged a walkout in the Tamil Nadu Assembly in protest against the Speaker refusing permission to raise incidents of violence during the ruling DMK's organisational elections in Udumalpet.

Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, Deputy Leader of the Opposition O Panneerselvam drew Speaker R Avudaiyappan's attention to the alleged attack on a Deputy Superintendent of Police at Udumalpet during the DMK's organisational elections yesterday.

He alleged that there was a serious law and order problem and wanted to raise the issue.

But the Speaker refused permission stating it was an intra-party issue and the adjournment motion given notice of by the AIADMK in this regard was under his consideration.

The Speaker also referred to a complaint filed by the Andipatti DMK MLA on incidents of violence during the AIADMK's enrolment exercise for the youth brigade there.

The Speaker told Mr Panneerselvam that he could not insist on the Chair to take up the issue as it was his prerogative.

Intervening, Leader of the House and Finance Minister K Anbazhagan said the Assembly should not be used as a forum to raise party issues and it was the prerogative of the Speaker to allow them.

As noisy scenes prevailed with the AIADMK members on their feet and the Speaker repeatedly refusing permission (to raise the issue), AIADMK Whip K A Sengottaiyan led his party colleagues out, raising slogans that there was no protection even for police under the DMK regime.

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