Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker D. Jayakumar on Wednesday described as “height of opportunism” DMK president M.Karunanidhi's remarks that “suspension of Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) was not only anti-democratic, but also an attempt aimed at demolishing democracy.”
In a statement here, Mr Jayakumar said the recordings and photographs of the Assembly proceedings, on February 2, were placed before the Privileges Committee and the members of the committee belonging to the DMK, Congress, CPI and CPI(M) had agreed that there was a breach of privilege by Mr Vijayakant.
Moreover, Mr Vijayakant was given an opportunity to appear before the Privileges Committee to explain his stand the next day. But he rejected the proposal.
“It is condemnable and painful that Mr Karunanidhi has criticised the decision of the House taken with a view to protecting the democracy of the Assembly and its privileges and norms,” Mr Jayakumar said. The Speaker said after the eviction of Mr Vijayakant and his party members, the House could have been asked to take action against them for behaving in a manner that violated the dignity of the Assembly.
“But no action was taken in a hurried manner. Since the House wanted Mr Vijayakant to explain his position, the issue was referred to the Privileges Committee with recording and photographs,” he further explained.
Mr Jayakumar said that in 2007 when the AIADMK members were evicted from the Assembly, a resolution was adopted for suspending AIADMK member A.K. Bose for allegedly removing the cap of a watch and ward staff.
“The issue was not sent to the Privilege Committee unlike the case of Mr Vijayakant. Mr Bose was denied all privileges of the member of the House, including salary, for three months,” he said.
Mr Jayakumar said Mr Karunanidhi justified the action against Mr Bose, by arguing that even though the punishment was less, it would go a long way in protecting democracy.
“But now he prefers to call the action against Mr Vijayakant as anti-democratic, though the issue was referred to the Privileges Committee and he was given an opportunity to explain his position. People of the State know that it is the height of opportunism,” he said.
