Remarks against Buddhadeb expunged after Left protest

Chennai, Jan 13 (PTI) Tamil Nadu Asssembly today witnessedheated exchanges between Congress and Left parties over someremarks against West Bengal Chief Minister BuddhadebBhattacharya, which were expunged later.

Trouble erupted when Congress whip S Peter Alphonse,speaking on the debate on the motion to thank the Governor forhis address to the Assembly, made some remarks againstBhattacharya while flaying the Left parties, drawing strongreactions from the Communists.

A heated exchange followed between Congress and CPI (M) andCPI members. Repeated pleas by Deputy Speaker V P Duraisamyfor decorum failed to see any result as the CPI (M) membersmarched to the Well.

Duraisamy warned them against entering the well and said hewould initiate action against them. Law Minister Duraimuruganintervened and said the Left members'' grievance could bereddressed if they resumed their seats.

Subsequently, the Left party members returned to theirseats and after some deliberation, the Deputy Speaker expungedthe remarks made by Alphonse.

The Congress member took objection to the oppositionparties'' charge that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had failedto curb soaring prices of vegetables.

''''Why are you speaking like as if Dr Singh is a vegetablevendor and that he is directly responsible for price rise,''''he asked the Left parties and told them that the Centre wastaking all efforts, including import of onions to curb prices.