DMK MLAs evicted from TN Assembly amid uproar over Vijay's bribe charge against party

DMK MLAs were evicted from the Tamil Nadu Assembly after they protested Chief Minister Vijay's references to an ED document to attack the party over corruption. The DMK MLAs sought Vijay's corruption references to be expunged from records, a demand the Speaker rejected.

In Short

• DMK MLAs protest against CM Vijay's corruption claims against party in Assembly
• Speaker refuses to expunge Vijay's remarks, cites information public domain
• Vijay attacks previous DMK regime, uses ED document to make bribe allegations

The Tamil Nadu Assembly witnessed chaos on Tuesday as DMK MLAs protested Chief Minister Vijay's references to an Enforcement Directorate (ED) document and corruption allegations against the previous DMK regime, prompting the Speaker to order their eviction from the House.

The uproar began soon after the day's proceedings started, when DMK Whip EV Velu demanded that references made by Vijay in his speech on Monday be expunged from the Assembly records.

Attacking the previous DMK regime, Vijay had on Monday cited an ED document to allege that contractors were made to pay 7.5-10 per cent of contract values as "party funds". He said the money was allegedly collected from works under the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department. He also invoked the Sarkaria Commission report over the Veeranam water scheme.

In response, Velu objected to both Vijay's references to the DMK's source of party funds and the Sarkaria Commission report, saying they were contrary to Assembly rules.

However, state Law Minister R Nirmal Kumar defended Vijay's statement, saying it was based on the Sarkaria Commission report and official ED documents. He also reiterated the allegations of corruption against the then DMK government.

The DMK members strongly objected and continued raising slogans.

Speaker JCD Prabhakar refused to expunge Vijay's remarks, saying the Chief Minister had referred only to information already in the public domain. "Whatever was discussed about Murasoli Maran (of DMK), he said so. He only spoke about ED information which is on public domain," he said.

The Speaker also said Vijay had also referred to former Chief Minister MK Stalin's arrest under MISA and earlier discussions in the Assembly over the Sarkaria Commission. "There is nothing wrong in it and no need to expunge anything from CM speech," he said.

Speaker Prabhakar told the protesting MLAs that Vijay had completed his speech despite their objections on Monday.

"Whole nation saw what you did yesterday. You tried to stop the Chief Minister from speaking but he completed his speech victoriously. Everything is happening as per rules," he said.

Despite the Speaker's ruling, DMK MLAs continued their protest and gathered in front of his podium, raising slogans demanding that Vijay's remarks be removed from the records.

Leader of the House KA Sengottaiyan sought action against the protesting legislators in accordance with Assembly rules. "Even after the Speaker's verdict, DMK MLAs are causing ruckus here and hence I request you to remove them from the Assembly," he said.

The Speaker then gave the DMK MLAs one minute to return to their seats and said he would allow KN Nehru or EV Velu to speak.

The protest, however, continued.

Speaker Prabhakar warned the MLAs that they had brought posters into the House without his permission and had not listened to his remarks. One of the protesting DMK MLAs approached the Speaker, who told him, "Don't come here. Get out."

With the sloganeering continuing, the Speaker ordered Assembly marshals to evict the protesting DMK MLAs from the House. The legislators continued raising slogans as they were taken out of the Assembly hall.

- Ends
(with inputs from PTI)