Union Cabinet Ministers from Tamil Nadu and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MPs have petitioned the Parliament Secretariat, seeking permission to speak in Tamil while addressing the House, Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers M. K. Alagiri said on Tuesday.
Addressing reporters on the sidelines of the launch of the Multi System Operators Association (MSOA) of Tamil Nadu, Mr. Alagiri said all DMK Ministers and MPs had requested the Parliament Secretariat to allow them to speak in Tamil while raising questions and answering queries through interpreters in Parliament.
While appreciating Opposition Leader Jayalalithaa’s recent statement making a case for allowing Ministers from the State too to speak in Tamil while addressing the House, Mr. Alagiri also wondered when the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary developed the sudden fondness for Tamil.
Mr. Alagiri was quick to quell any speculation over his presence at the MSOA launch, stating that he had agreed to inaugurate the outfit as he was a friend of its president B. Jayaraman.