DMK walkout over Dy Speaker’s order expunging remarks

Chennai: The DMK on Thursday staged a walkout in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, following a sharp exchange of words between the treasury and opposition benches after remarks made by one of its MLAs were expunged by the Deputy Speaker.

Participating in the debate for demands for grants to the health department, DMK MLA R Masilamani recited a couplet from Tamil classic 'Thirukkural'. 

His remarks, perceived to be giving indications over the government's stability, were expunged by Deputy Speaker Pollachi V Jayaraman.

When DMK Deputy Leader Duraimurugan objected to it, Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam said only the remarks were removed and not the couplet and added that the government had more respect and love for the saint poet Thiruvalluvar than the Opposition. He said the DMK member's conscience knew the remark had 'indirect pointers'.

Stalin led the walkout of his party members, objecting to the removal of comments.

Earlier, when Masilamani referred to the low pass percentage of Tamil medium students (about 1.86 per cent) in NEET, Health Minister C Vijayabaskar said steps have been taken to ensure that students fared well in the national test.

During the zero hour, Stalin, reiterated his party's position that a Cabinet meet be held and a policy decision (besides a resolution in the Assembly) be taken to facilitate permanent closure of Vedanta's copper unit in Tuticorin district. 

He drew the attention of Chief Minister Palaniswami that solatium has not been provided to the kin of Subasri, a Tiruchirappalli based student who committed suicide following her failure in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test.

DMK members boycotted Health Minister C Vijayabaskar's reply to the debate on demands for grants to the health department by again staging a walkout.

Later they told reporters outside the assembly that they were opposed to minister as he was facing some allegations relating to the 'gutkha scam'.