Tuticorin violence finds echo in TN assembly, DMK walks out
The violent anti-sterlite protests in Tuticorin once again echoed in the state Assembly on Thursday, with the opposition DMK staging a walkout from the House on being denied permission to raise the issue.
The government asked the main opposition party to approach the one-man inquiry commission headed by retired Madras high court Judge Aruna Jagadeesan, which is probing the violence and police firing during protests against the Sterlite unit on May 22 in the southern district that claimed 13 lives.
When Leader of the Opposition MK Stalin wanted to raise an issue in connection with the incident, speaker P Dhanapal initially denied permission saying “enough debate” had taken place on the matter and that even chief minister E Palaniswami had responded to it on the floor of the House.
However, after much persuasion from the DMK, he allowed
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Stalin to make his remarks, before cutting him short and expunging the comments, saying they were related to the inquiry commission.
Miffed over not being allowed to talk, Stalin staged a walkout, with his colleagues.
Later, Palaniswami said the DMK should approach the commission and submit whatever matter they wanted to pertaining to the issue before it.
Noting that a case related to the issue was pending in the Madras high court, Palaniswami said it was a normal practice not to debate matters that were subjudice, in the House.
Later, quoting assembly rules, the speaker said no discussion would be held on matters being probed by an inquiry commission. While appointing the commission last month, the government had said it will cover the “law and order incidents following the siege of the district collectorate by thousands of persons violating prohibitory orders.”