The nation-wide strike by 10 central trade unions against the BJP-led government at the Centre found an echo in the Tamil Nadu Assembly with major opposition parties including the DMK demanding a resolution in the House highlighting 15-point charters of demands behind the strike.
Members of the Left parties and Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) drew the attention of the House by displaying notices bearing slogans against the Centre. But Speaker P. Dhanapal warned them, saying it was against decorum of the House.
"I have allowed the Opposition members to raise the issue. Still you have brought notices against rule of the House. I condemn it strongly and will take severe action if you resort to similar activities in future," he said.
While the DMK members remained in the House, others staged a walk out and subsequently tried to stage a road roko in front of Fort St George. Police prevented them near the main gate and a few MLAs were hit when the security men brought down the iron pipe at the checkpoint. This led to a war of words between MLAs and police officials, particularly between Congress member Vijayadharaini and police.
"They deliberately brought down the iron pipe to hit us. We need an explanation," she said.
CPI (M) floor leader A. Soundararajan said the Left parties and others tried to stage a road roko to highlight the BJP government's move to bring in changes in labour laws and its attempt to ‘destroy rural employment guarantee scheme’. "The Centre has become a proxy of the corporate houses," said a notice carried by the members.
"We are ready to face the arrest. But the police is not ready to arrest us," Mr. Soundararajan said.
