DMK members stage black cloth protest

By R. K. Radhakrishnan

CHENNAI, SEPT. 5. The DMK MLAs today covered their mouths with black cloth in the Assembly protesting the Information department action giving only `select' portions of video recordings of proceedings to television channels.

The protest began with Mr. Durai Murugan (DMK), bringing up the issue of ``slanted coverage'' in the visual media since the Films Division made available only select footage, which concentrated on ruling partymen.

Though he tried to raise the issue earlier and suggested that Doordarshan be also permitted to record the proceedings, the Speaker, Mr. K. Kalimuthu, directed him to make the submission in writing. He did so, but there was no response from the Speaker, Mr. Durai Murugan said.

In his reply, the Speaker said that since August 20 the State Films Division had been recording the proceedings for about three-and-a- half hours in the morning session and for about two hours in the evening. The proceedings were edited and compiled into half-hour and twenty-minute modules respectively, incorporating productive ideas and giving prominence to the Chief Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, Ministers and members.

When the proceedings were edited and reduced, it would not be possible to include everyone and every view, the Speaker explained. Also, this version was made available to DD and 10 private channels. Hence, there was no scope for a discussion on this, the Speaker informed the House.

Mr. Durai Murugan expressed his party's dissatisfaction with the manner the process was carried out and reiterated his demand that DD and other channels be allowed to record the proceedings as was done in some other States. As a mark of protest, DMK members would cover their mouths with black cloth, he said.

Quick to recover, the Speaker remarked that he had no allergy for the black cloth. ``We have come in that (black flag) tradition,'' he said referring to the Dravidar Kazhagam days of the older generation of DMK and AIADMK politicians.

Intervening, the Finance Minister, Mr. C. Ponnaiyan, said that only Parliament proceedings were shown live on DD. The Education Minister, Mr. M. Thambi Durai, urged the Speaker to maintain the dignity of the House by ensuring that guidelines governing the behaviour of members were adhered to.

Senior DMK members including the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. K. Anbazhagan, the Chennai Mayor, Mr. M. K. Stalin, Mr. K. Ponmudi and Mr. Ko. Si. Mani were not present when the protest was on. After about 10 minutes, the members took off the cloth saying they had ``registered their protest.''

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