The Hindu : DMK walkout over officials' absence

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Apr 03, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Pondicherry

DMK walkout over officials' absence

By Our Staff Reporter

Pondicherry April 2. The DMK members today staged a walkout in the Assembly protesting the absence of higher officials in the lobby when the House was dealing with ``important issues.''

When A.M. Krishnamoorthy (BJP) was airing his views on the functioning of the Government-run Anglo French Textile mills here, the former Education Minister, S.P. Sivakumar (DMK), drew the attention of the Speaker, M.D.R. Ramachandran, to the ``absence of officials in the lobby, though the House was going ahead with an important discussion.''

The Government Whip, P. Rajavelu, suggested to the Chair he adjourn the House for at least half an hour so that the officials could be present.

Rejecting the suggestion as untenable, the Speaker said it would be a sad reflection on the House as a whole if the proceedings were to be postponed merely because officials were not present.

The Speaker recalled the circulars he issued to the officials that they should be present every day during the session.

``It was indeed a sorry spectacle that they were not to be seen.''

Mr. Sivakumar insisted on his demand and all the DMK members staged a walkout.

Ugadi greetings

The Speaker today extended Ugadi greetings to the people and particularly to the legislator (Independent) from the Yanam constituency (an enclave of Pondicherry in Andhra Pradesh), Malladi Krishna Rao.

Mr. Ramachandran extended the greetings when he intervened a debate on the budget.

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