AIADMK, DMK face-off in RS

New Delhi, Aug 12: Tamil parties AIADMK and DMK had a face-off in Rajya Sabha today after the former raised the issue of construction of check dams by Andhra Pradesh on Pallar river flowing it the state.

When Vijila Sathyanath (AIADMK) rose to speak on her Zero Hour mention, DMK members led by Tiruchi Siva and Kanimozhi objected to it saying she should not be allowed to raise the matter as their notices on the same issue were disallowed earlier.

AIADMK members were immediately on their feet to support their party colleague, with senior member A Navaneethakrishnan even walking up to the Chair demanding that Sathyanath be allowed to complete her submission.

Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said the Chairman has allowed her Zero Hour mention and so she has been permitted to speak. Amid protests from DMK members, she said Andhra Pradesh has constructed check dams on the river without the permission of Tamil Nadu.

Siva said he had given a special mention notice yesterday on Cauvery management board but it was disallowed on the grounds that the issue had already been raised in the House in the current session.

He said he had raised the issue of check dams on Pallar river through a Zero Hour mention which was also not allowed.

So the same rule should apply to the AIADMK member's notice which should not be accepted. "My notice was not accepted," the DMK member said, as his AIADMK counterparts protested vociferously. At one time, Kurien even warned of action against Sathyanath for unruly behaviour after she had completed her three-minute submission. "Vijila, I will take action against you. Don't do like this," he said. To Siva, Kurien said it is the prerogative of the Chairman to allow an issue to be raised. "You cannot comment on the decision of the Chairman."

PTI