Speaker Sumitra Mahajan pulls up deputy M Thambidurai in Lok Sabha

NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha today witnessed a rare spectacle as Speaker Sumitra Mahajan pulled up her deputy M Thambidurai when he suddenly spoke about an alleged encounter in Tamil Nadu.

Thambidurai, who is also leader of the AIADMK, took up the issue of encounter of alleged red sanders smugglers near Thirupati in Andhra Pradesh directly with the government during the Zero Hour. He sought a response from Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

This irked the Speaker, who said, "Thambiduraiji, you are the Deputy Speaker. You can ask me if you want to speak. You should not talk directly to the Home Minister."

While disapproving of Thambidurai's conduct, she said, "All I am saying is, if he (Home Minister) is ready, I am allowing him to respond. But please do not get angry like this."

The development took place when opposition members raised concern over two encounters in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, alleging that people were killed by police in cold blood and demanded a CBI probe.

Thambidurai followed E Ahmed (IUML) who first raised the issue of Nalgonda killings and alleged that five minority youth were shot dead by police in an "extra judicial massacre".