The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Privilege issue raised against Karunanidhi

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Sep 29, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Privilege issue raised against Karunanidhi

Special Correspondent

Referred to Privileges panel, Opposition parties stage walkout Speaker K. Kalimuthu ruled that the issue was referred to the Privilege Committee as he felt there was "prima facie a breach of privilege" under Rule 226

CHENNAI: A privilege issue raised by a Member against Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president M. Karunanidhi for his "critical remarks" against the First Supplementary Statement for 2005-2006 was referred to the Privileges Committee on Wednesday, even as three Opposition parties staged a walkout protesting the Speaker's decision.

Shortly before the debate on the Supplementary Statement, the lone All-India Forward Bloc Member, L. Santhanam, rose to say that Mr. Karunanidhi, despite being a senior MLA, had "breached the privilege of the House" by criticising the Supplementary Estimates in a newspaper article on September 26, though the Opposition had the opportunity to express its views in the Assembly.

The comments made in "contravention of truth" to "divert the attention of the people" amounted to breach of the privilege of the House as a whole, he said. He also quoted the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Rules in support of his argument.

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, referring to a remark made by C. Gnanasekaran (Congress), said if the former Chief Minster wanted to express his views on the supplementary estimates, he should have done so in the House.

On Ela. Pugazhendi (DMK)'s protest on the issue, she said persons who were not MLAs could air their views on policy issues outside the Assembly but Members, including the Chief Minister, could not do so when the House was in session. The "disparaging remarks" made by Mr. Karunanidhi had to be mentioned in the House.

As Mr. Pugazhendi continued to protest, Speaker K. Kalimuthu asked the watch and ward staff to evict him.

Mr. Kalimuthu ruled that the issue was referred to the Privileges Committee as he felt that there was "prima facie a breach of privilege" under Rule 226.

He also did not allow Congress Legislature Party leader S.R. Balasubramoniyan, and Pattali Makkal Katchi leader, G.K. Mani to speak on the issue. Protesting against Mr. Kalimuthu's decision, the Congress, DMK and PMK members staged a walkout.

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