The Assembly witnessed a heated exchange between the ruling AIADMK and the Opposition when V. Senthil Balaji (DMK) made some gestures at Electricity Minister P. Thangamani in the House during a debate.
Speaker P. Dhanapal reprimanded the Aravakurichi MLA over the incident.
Mr. Thangamani, who sought the attention of DMK president M.K. Stalin and urged the DMK to cooperate in the installation of electricity transmission towers in 13 districts of the State, said that some MPs were “instigating” farmers on this issue. This appeared to anger Mr. Balaji.
Both AIADMK and DMK members were up on their feet, leading to pandemonium in the House. Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami said while Mr. Stalin and Mr. Thangamani were leading the debate peacefully, Mr. Balaji was attempting to create a riot.
Mr. Stalin said his party MLA was agitated on the Minister’s comment that the MPs were instigating farmers. Leader of the House and Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam intervened to say that Mr. Balaji should not make unparliamentary gestures and should address only the Speaker.
MLA reprimanded
The Chair reprimanded Mr. Balaji over his “inappropriate” gesture. Mr. Stalin said he regretted the actions of Mr. Balaji but Mr. Thangamani had made some “unnecessary comments.”
Mr. Palaniswami said some MPs were standing below high- tension lines with glowing tube lights in their hands and only to scare farmers.
“Those towers were installed during your regime. Actions like these would only create panic among farmers,” Mr. Palaniswami said.
Mr. Thangamani said a farmer had recorded his conversation with an MP and hence he was seeking the opposition’s cooperation in this issue. If the project came through, it would benefit Tamil Nadu in the long run, he added.
“If my comments are hurting the sentiments of the DMK leader, I am willing to remove them from the Assembly records,” he added.
