AIADMK stages walkout in TN Assembly

Chennai, Apr 21 (UNI) The Opposition AIADMK today staged a walkout in the Tamil Nadu Assembly in protest against the Speaker refusing permission to take up incidence of violence during the party's organisational elections in Udumalpet and Andipatti.

Raising the issue during 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 elections.

But the Speaker refused permission, stating that it was an intra-party issue and also referred to a complaint filed by the Andipatti MLA on similar instances of violence during the enrolment exercise for the youth brigade at Andipatti. The adjournment motion given notice of by him in this regard was under his consideration, he added.

The Speaker told Mr Panneerselvam that he could not insist 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 it.

As noisy scenes prevailed with the AIADMK members on their feet and the Speaker repeatedly refusing permission, 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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