DMK legislators stage walk out after argument with Speaker

Chennai, Aug 10: Tamil Nadu Assembly today witnessed sharp exchanges between the ruling AIADMK and DMK and the House proceedings were briefly stalled as Opposition legislators wanted a remark made by Minister SP Velumani deleted from records.

After arguing with Speaker P Dhanapal over the matter, DMK members staged a walk out. After DMK member Seethapathi listed the achievements of her party regime led by party chief Karunanidhi, S P Velumani countered her by saying free television scheme did not reach all the beneficiaries and some TVs had even burst.

He said it was the AIADMK regime and Chief Minister Jayalalithaa who had implemented all her poll promises including distribution of free mixies and grinders and made a remark about the World Classical Tamil Conference organised by the DMK regime. Immediately, DMK members were on their feet demanding that the remark be expunged.

DMK whip Chakrapani said "the Minister said it (conference) was a family event, it was a government event and his remark should be expunged." Speaker P Dhanapal said the matter was discussed several times before and sought to pacify DMK members by saying that counter point of the Opposition has also gone on record. He later asked Social Welfare Minister V Saroja to make her reply to the discussion on Demand for Grants for her Department.

However, the DMK members continued to make vociferous demands for deletion of Velumani's remark and former Minister (DMK MLA) Ponmudi argued with Dhanapal over the matter. Finally, all the DMK members staged a walkout. Earlier, the arch rivals locked horns when Revenue Minister R B Uthayakumar made some critical comments against DMK in regularising encroachments, especially on water bodies.

His remark drew sharp reaction from the opposition even as he questioned why the DMK government of 2006-11 had revised a one time regularisation scheme ten times. During the debate, DMK member and former Minister I Periasamy also made some critical remarks against the government's handling of the December 2015 deluge in Chennai.

To this, PWD Minister Edappadi K Palaniswamy said that the flooding was caused only due to the city receiving about 50 cm of rainfall in a single day, and denied any lapse on part of the government.

PTI