DMK president M. Karunanidhi on Thursday said the State Assembly did not have a proper environment for someone who was “disabled” or “ailing” like him to participate in the proceedings.
The nonagenarian leader turned up to sign the Assembly attendance register.
Talking to reporters outside, Mr. Karunanidhi, in a clear swipe at Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, said he came to the Assembly hoping that proper seating arrangements would have been made for him to participate in the proceedings. To his dismay, he found that he was not even provided a separate chair.
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“Tamil Nadu’s present Chief Minister Panneerselvam had given a statement. I came here believing him. But, there was no proper seating arrangement for people like me who are ailing,” he said.
The DMK president has been wheelchair bound for five years now. Over the past two weeks, he was involved in a war of words with Mr. Panneerselvam after demanding that the government call for a sitting of the Assembly immediately to discuss important issues affecting people. In return, the Chief Minister questioned whether the DMK chief would attend the Assembly if a session was called for, forcing Mr. Karunanidhi to state that he would if proper seating arrangements were made.
Mr. Karunanidhi said even in the Rajya Sabha there were special facilities for the ailing.
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“I have been taking part in Assembly proceedings for over 50 years. That too I have not lost an election in these 50 years and have functioned well. I have performed my Assembly responsibilities. But you are seeing the kind of respect given to me. I did not expect everyone to welcome me. I came here thinking a seat would be enough for me. I could not even enter the House,” he said.
The DMK patriarch also listed 26 issues that he thought should be discussed in the Assembly immediately.