Speaker R. Avudaiappan on Wednesday referred to the Privileges Committee of the Assembly, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi's letter to his party members on the disproportionate assets case against All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Jayalalithaa.
His decision followed Mr. Karunanidhi's request to the Speaker to refer the matter to the Committee.
When Deputy Leader of Opposition O. Panneerselvam wanted the Chief Minister's letter referred to the Committee, Mr. Karunanidhi said if the matter was referred to the panel, he would get an opportunity to explain those details which he could not tell the House.
After the Speaker's ruling, some AIADMK members raised slogans in the Assembly.
Later, all the party members staged a walkout.
A resolution moved by Leader of the House and Finance Minister K. Anbazhagan, suspending AIADMK members V. Senthil Balaji, G. Hari, S.M. Velusamy, D. Jayakumar, L. Ravichandran and V.P. Kalairajan for the day and Thursday, was adopted by a voice vote.
Solatium
Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi announced in the House a solatium of Rs.7 lakh for the family of Sub-Inspector of Police Paneerselvam, who was killed, allegedly by a security guard of an automated teller machine at Papanasam in Thanjavur district on Tuesday.
Apart from Rs.2 lakh given from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund, Rs.5 lakh would be sanctioned as the SI had died in action. Besides, the last drawn pay would be given as family pension till the age of superannuation of the PSI.
An heir of the family would be given a government job on priority basis depending on the person's educational qualification.
Terming the incident unexpected, Mr. Karunanidhi appealed to members of the House not to make it appear as if the police personnel were not safe on the basis of a few such incidents.
