Opposition parties, led by DMK president M.K. Stalin, boycotted Governor Banwarilal Purohit’s address in the Assembly on Wednesday. They staged a walkout after the Leader of the Opposition attempted unsuccessfully to raise some issues in the House.
Soon after the Governor began his address by greeting everyone on the occasion of the first Assembly session of 2019, Mr. Stalin sought to raise some issues, but wasn’t allowed to do so.
Continuing his speech, the Governor then spoke a few sentences in Tamil, urging everyone to lead a simple life. After his repeated attempts to speak went in vain, Mr. Stalin, along with his party legislators, staged a walkout. Members of the DMK’s allies in the House – the Congress and the Indian Union Muslim League — followed suit.
‘Speech disappointing’
MDMK chief Vaiko, CPI(M) State secretary K. Balakrishnan and TMC president G.K. Vasan termed the Governor’s speech in the Assembly a ‘disappointment’.
Mr. Vaiko said the speech only underscored that the Edappadi K. Palaniswami-led government was bowing to pressure from the Centre on issues like NEET and the National Medical Council Bill.
Mr. Vasan said the speech did not have any mention of providing full compensation to those affected by Cyclone Gaja and did not have any announcement on farm loan waivers.
Mr. Balakrishnan said the Governor’s speech was “just a summary of a non-functional government”.
