Tamil Nadu: Opposition walks out of assembly over CM's reference to 2G-scam

CHENNAI: Arch rivals AIADMK and DMK were today involved in an exchange of words in the Tamil Nadu Assembly over Chief Minister O Panneerselvam's reference to the 2G-spectrum allocation scam, culminating in the opposition party staging a walkout.

Heated scenes were witnessed after Panneerselvam, who was replying to the debate on Budget presented by him last week, made some remarks about the scam, in which DMK leaders Kanimozhi and former Telecom Minister A Raja are accused.

The DMK members, led by their floor leader M K Stalin, vociferously opposed Panneerselvam's remarks and wanted the Speaker P Dhanapal to expunge the remark.

However, Dhanapal did not heed to their demand, prompting the DMK legislators to troupe out of the House.

The Chief Minister was responding to senior DMK leader Durai Murugan extensively relying on CAG reports to question the government's performance on various sectors during the debate on the Budget, and pointed out that it was the CAG report which pegged the 2G spectrum allocation loss at Rs 1.76 lakh crore.

Seeking to rub salt into DMK's wounds, Pannneerselvam said that his government had not been dragged to the court over any findings by the CAG, in an apparent reference to Kanimozhi and Raja attending court hearings in this matter.