The Hindu : Debate waits as CM 'sets record straight'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 27, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Debate waits as CM 'sets record straight'

By R. K. Radhakrishnan

CHENNAI March 26. Discussions on the Tamil Nadu budget and drought conditions took the backseat in the Assembly for the second day running, even as the events which led to pandemonium in the House on March 25, 1989 took centrestage, resulting in eviction of DMK MLAs today.

The members were physically carried out after they shouted slogans and insisted that they be given the right to reply to the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, who had presented her version of what led to the incidents during budget presentation in 1989.

At different points, Ms. Jayalalithaa named the DMK MLAs, K. Anbazhagan, Durai Murugan and K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran, and all the three demanded that they be heard. The Speaker, K. Kalimuthu, refused permission, and proceeded with the budget discussions. The incensed DMK MLAs raised slogans against the Chief Minister for ``acting inside the House'' and demanded that Mr. Ramachandran be allowed to speak ``according to his conscience.'' They also asked the Speaker not to act at the behest of the AIADMK.

Mr. Kalimuthu did not relent and asked the DMK members to allow him to conduct the proceedings. But sloganeering continued and he ordered the watch and ward to remove the members. As the MLAs offered resistance, they were first removed from the House and later, on his orders, from the lobby too.

The Congress, the PMK, CPI (M) and the CPI protested Mr. Kalimuthu's decision not to allow the DMK MLAs, who stood accused, to defend themselves. But the Speaker stuck to his decision and maintained that the members were allowed to speak on Tuesday itself. The Chief Minister made a statement as L. Santhanam (Forward Bloc), had asked for a clarification on yesterday's incidents.

Later, members of the Congress Jananayaga Peravai staged a walkout. The BJP did not react. The Congress leader, S.R. Balasubramaniam, contended that the Speaker's ruling was ``unfair.'' The CPI leader, V. Palanichamy, asked what purpose was served by members raising the issue both yesterday and today, at a time when the State was facing an unprecedented drought.

Explaining the rationale behind her decision, Ms. Jayalalithaa said a majority of the members of the House and youth of the State would not know the true picture of the events which took place 14 years ago. ``I had thought I would not speak about the incidents.'' But she was prompted to do so as Mr. Anbazhagan and Mr. Durai Murugan yesterday claimed that the events had not even taken place. Describing the day (March 25, 1989) as a ``black dot'' in the history of the House, she said Mr. Anbazhagan and Mr. Durai Murugan had recorded in the Assembly information which was ``contrary to the truth.'' This was also highlighted by newspapers. She was setting the record straight.

Mr. Anbazhagan later told presspersons that the issue was debated and explanations were offered yesterday itself. He asked why it was raked up for a second day, and said this only indicated the Government's ulterior motive to stall budget discussions.

Reacting, the DMK president, M. Karunanidhi, said the incident was a diversionary tactic.

``None of the issues the members highlighted would find a place in the media tomorrow; only this incident would. To that extent they have succeeded in their effort,'' he said.

To protest the "denial of democratic rights", the DMK MLAs would wear blackbadges to the House tomorrow.

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