By IANS,
Chennai : The Tamil Nadu assembly Monday witnessed a slanging match between the ruling DMK-Congress combine and the opposition AIADMK-PMK, which disrupted the proceedings of the house for some time.
The disruption started when Congress member D.Yasoda, participating on the debate on the demands for grant for the local administration department, said the ruling combine’s Lok Sabha election victory was due to the welfare measures implemented by the governments at the centre and the state.
She added the opposition was alleging the electronic voting machines (EVMs) were rigged, instead of respecting the poll verdict.
This was resented by PMK legislators, who were up on their feet and strongly objected to Yasoda’s remarks.
Coming to her support, senior DMK leader and Finance Minister K.Anbazhagan said Yasoda’s remarks were in general and not aimed at anybody in particular.
Supporting their ally PMK, the AIADMK members were also up on their feet even as Electricity Minister Arcot N.Veeraswami requested the opposition members to allow the house to proceed smoothly.
Though the speaker suggested that one member of the opposition could convey their collective views, the opposition members remained standing and kept on shouting at the treasury benches.
Deputy Leader of Opposition O. Paneerselvam said expunged remarks were still present in the assembly records, which was refuted by Public Works Minister Duraimurugan.
Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi cautioned the members that there were visitors in the assembly and if all the members stood up to raise an issue, it would affect the house’s image.
He suggested the members stand and speak one after another and also recommended that the remarks of Panneerselvam and Duraimurugan be removed from the records, after which order was restored in the house.