The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Tuesday adopted a resolution suspending six DMDK MLAs for 10 days in the next session as well even as the Opposition staged a walk out calling the punishment “too harsh.”
Speaker P. Dhanapal said DMDK Members V.C. Chandirakumar, R. Mohanraj, S.R. Parthiban, L. Venkatesan, C.H. Sekar and K. Dhinakaran would also lose the entitlements as MLAs. The six are among the 20 DMDK MLAs who are under suspension for the ongoing session. The action followed proceedings of the Privileges Committee on the ruckus the House witnessed on March 19.
This resolution meant the suspended MLAs may have to forego their entitlements for months, since a session would be counted as new only after the current one is prorogued by the Governor.
When the resolution was tabled in the Assembly by House Leader Natham. R. Viswanathan, Opposition members, including those of the DMK, CPI, Congress and CPI (M) were on their feet objecting to the action recommended on the MLAs.
DMK treasurer M.K. Stalin said while he did not condone the action of the DMDK Members, the punishment was too harsh. For the sake of democracy and to allow the MLAs to fulfil their responsibilities, the action should be reconsidered, he said. His views were echoed by leaders of other Opposition parties as well.
However, Mr. Viswanathan defended the move and said the action of the DMDK MLAs were a “black spot” on the image of the Assembly. He mentioned that the action was against the six alone and rest of the DMDK MLAs can attend the proceedings.
After the resolution was adopted through a voice vote, Opposition Members walked out of the Assembly.
Meanwhile, in a statement, DMDK president Vijayakant said such a harsh punishment would not be accepted by anyone respecting Assembly conventions.
After a resolution was adopted in the House, Opposition Members staged a walkout
