Even as the DMK insisted on a debate on Wednesday on the ‘sting operation’ that showed AIADMK (Puratchi Thalavi Amma) MLA S.S. Saravanan talking about alleged payment of money to AIADMK MLAs in return for their support to the Sasikala camp, Speaker P. Dhanapal rejected the demand saying he would have allowed it [the debate] if the party had not gone to the court on the legality of the trust vote.
This prompted Leader of the Opposition M.K. Stalin to point out that the House had earlier discussed issues like the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and the Cauvery water dispute even though they were sub judice.
The DMK members reiterated their demand and raised slogans against the State government. At one point, DMK deputy leader Duraimurugan made a remark against the Speaker, which was expunged.
“In the pretext of advising me, Mr. Duraimurugan has asked me to resign,” Mr. Dhanapal said.
At this juncture, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami intervened to say that a senior member like Mr. Duraimurugan, who was well aware of the rules of the House, should not make such remarks against the Speaker.
‘Left with no option’
Mr. Dhanapal reminded the DMK members that in a similar situation in 2011, when there was a controversy over the Niira Radia tapes, Electricity Minister P. Thangamani, who was then a member of the House, was not allowed to raise the issue.
“Even though the tapes were recorded by the Income Tax department, Mr. Thangamani was not allowed to speak about the issue in the Assembly,” the Speaker noted.
Mr. Dhanapal alleged that the DMK members had come to the House with the motive of disturbing the proceedings, adding that he was left with no option but to evict them to ensure the smooth functioning of the House.
He named all the DMK members who were present in the House before evicting them, as mandated by the Assembly rules.
