Date:30/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/30/stories/2006083017960600.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Uphold dignity of House, Karunanidhi appeals to MLAs

Special Correspondent

Uproar after AIADMK member addresses him by name

M. Karunanidhi

CHENNAI: Following noisy exchanges in the Assembly after an AIADMK member addressed him by name, Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi told the Assembly on Tuesday that there was nothing wrong in anyone uttering his name. "After all, that is the reason why my mother Anjugam Ammaiyar and father Muthuvelar named me."

"You can say my name boldly," Mr.Karunanidhi said. "You can even do a lakhsharchana [spell out a lakh times]," he added.

Speaking on the debate on the demands for grants for Home department, Mr.Sekar Babu said he was doing so because of the reference to his leader in the same manner by Minister K.Ponmudi. This led to some noisy scenes.

Once the members settled, Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi appealed to members to uphold the dignity of the House and refrain from actions that would lower its prestige. He said the member had deliberately uttered his name because the provocation came from the ruling party's side. In the war of words, it was his name and the name of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa that were being sullied.

On his part, he had always referred to former Chief Minister in a manner befitting the dignity of a leader, though Ms.Jayalalithaa had not reciprocated.