AIADMK MPs protest over Sri Lankan Tamils issue, break chair mikes

NEW DELHI: The House of Elders turned into what seemed more like an unruly classroom for a few moments on Friday as AIADMK members broke mikes and threw papers while protesting, along with DMK, over the Sri Lankan Tamils issue.

The DMK and AIADMK MPs, who shouted slogans and trooped into the well of the House, were protesting against the government for "not making efforts" for a stronger resolution against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC on Thursday. When the Rajya Sabha reconvened after lunch, the protests continued. Congress' Renuka Choudhury, who was in the Chair, tried to conduct House business, but the MPs of the Tamil Nadu parties were unrelenting.

Things took a more raucous turn when she made certain remarks about their behaviour after adjourning the House for the day, with harsh exchanges between her and DMK. Two of the four mikes on the Chairman's table were wrenched out and broken by AIADMK members, led by V Maitreyan. Congress members Ambika Soni, Jairam Ramesh and RPN Singh and some senior members, including those from the opposition, stepped in to mollify DMK MPs. DMK member Siva got so agitated that he required medical aid and an ambulance was called as a standby. Choudhury later apologised to resolve the matter.