AIADMK demands chief minister’s resignation and eviction; spokesman later revokes suspension | Chennai News

CHENNAI: With the death toll in the Kallakurichi liquor tragedy rising, chaos prevailed in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Friday, the second day of the ongoing session. The main opposition AIADMK party led by its general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami blamed Chief Minister MK Stalin and demanded his resignation. Speaker M Appavu suspended the AIADMK MPs protesting in the hall for the entire day.

Stalin tried to lift the suspension order, saying that like his father M. Karunanidhi, he believed that the House should be run in a democratic manner with the opposition participating in the debate on the demand for grants. However, the AIADMK rejected the offer and remained outside the House.

“Kalaignar (Karunanidhi) and I strongly believe that this House should be run democratically. As a matter of principle, I believe that the opposition should participate in the debate on the demand for grants,” the chief minister said. He requested that the opposition be allowed to participate after the end of question hour and the speaker lifted the suspension.

Earlier, just before the start of the question hour of the session, Palaniswami and his party MPs in black held up placards and demanded the Prime Minister’s resignation.

The Speaker asked them to leave the building, but they continued to raise their voices. When they did not comply, the Speaker called the police officials and the AIADMK MPs were evicted from the building in large numbers.

DMK leader Duraimurgan said he was surprised and shocked that Opposition leader Palaniswami, who was previously the chief minister, was ignorant of the rules of the House.

“They have the right to protest, but only during zero hour,” Duraimurugan said. The spokesman said the AIADMK had not been denied permission to raise the issue. He said the one-day suspension did not apply to former AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam and his supporters.

Both Chief Minister Stalin and Minister for Sports and Youth Welfare Udhayanidhi Stalin were absent from the House during the protest. Stalin, who came to the House after the AIADMK MPs were evicted, said 52 people who consumed spurious liquor in Panruti in Cuddalore district in 2001 had died. He said the AIADMK had staged the planned drama fearing that its members would point out the incident.

While calling for awareness about the Kallakurichi tragedy, TNCC president K Selvaperunthagai said that every villager, NGO, police and local body official was responsible for the incident. He recalled that 127 people had died in a liquor-related tragedy in Gujarat when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the chief minister of the state, despite it being considered an alcohol-free state.

TVK leader T Velmurugan said strict action must be taken against the officials involved. BJP parliamentary leader Nainar Nagendran said Selvaperunthagai’s reference to the Gujarat incident was unacceptable. Faster action could have saved lives, he said. PMK parliamentary leader GK Mani said liquor was being sold in sachets near Tasmac shops in the heart of the township. BJP and PMK members walked out of the event.



KMDK MP ER Easwaran said allowing toddy tapping could help curb the scourge as the prices of Tasmac liquor were also a reason for people to seek illegal liquor.