DMK legislators evicted from assembly

CHENNAI: DMK legislators were today evicted from the Tamil Nadu Assembly after noisy arguments with Speaker P Dhanapal over a remark of a ruling party MLA.

While participating in the discussion on the Demand for Grant for departments, including Hindu Religious Endowments, AIADMK MLA Venkatraman said "After urging the government to hold assembly session, opposition parties stage walkout when it is held."

Objecting to the remark, DMK members wanted the Speaker to expunge it. However, Dhanapal said the member had not named any particular party and declined to accede to their demand.

Leader of the House O Panneerselvam also said there was nothing wrong warranting its expunction.

DMK members then trooped to the Speaker's podium, gathered in front of him and had noisy arguments over their demand.

Despite repeated appeals and warnings of the Speaker, the DMK MLAs did not get back to their seat. He later ordered the watch and ward staff to remove them.

Just an hour before their eviction, DMK members staged a walkout. While Speaker Dhanapal said he was taking up calling attention notices given by DMK members one after the other, DMK Deputy Leader Duraimurugan claimed outside the House that they walked out as "their over 35 notices (for moving calling attention motion) were not being taken up by the Chair."