DMK to intensify protests, says Karunanidhi

DMK president M. Karunanidhi on Monday said the party would intensify protests to highlight the “lack of democracy” in the State Legislative Assembly.

Addressing a public meeting at Mint Street on Monday evening to protest the suspension of 79 MLAs from the Assembly for a week, Mr. Karunanidhi said the party would deliberate with leaders on the next course of action.

“The protests might take the form of ‘fasting’ as well, which would effectively explain how democracy has been affected in State Assembly. We will deliberate within the party and announce the plan of action soon,” he said.

Reiterates allegation

DMK treasurer and Leader of Opposition reiterated his allegation that the opposition MLAs were suspended as the ruling party did not want a debate on the budgetary demands for the Home Department, which functions under Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.

Mr. Stalin alleged that questions raised by the DMK in the Assembly were being expunged by the Speaker. “There is no need to treat us as enemies. We are the opposition party. We have cooperated with the ruling party on a number of issues, including on the budget report. But the Speaker has to be fair,” he said. Referring to Ms Jayalalithaa’s challenge to Mr. Karunanidhi to attend the Assembly, the DMK treasurer said when the AIADMK leader had turned up alone to address the Assembly when the DMK was in power, the then Chief Minister had allowed her speak for over an hour and a half without any hindrance. “Did he (Karunanidhi) order any of her comments to be expunged?” he asked.

Reiterating that the Opposition does not want “to go to war with the Speaker,” DMK Deputy Floor Leader K. Duraimurugan claimed that Mr. Dhanapal was functioning like a ruling party representative.

“They expunge most of the questions/comments we raise from the records, then how will the people know,” he asked.

Congress Floor Leader in the Assembly K.R. Ramasamy too complained of not being given enough opportunity to speak in the Assembly.

“They stopped us from talking about a specific subject because the matter is before the Election Commission. They have said that the Opposition must not utter certain names,” he alleged.