DMK boycotts Governor’s address over Marina action

Marshalling his MLAs out of the House, Stalin called the governor’s address a “ritual that would not serve any purpose” and said the government had failed to handle the protests in an effective manner. He also condemned the state for unleashing cops on the protesters. 

Earlier in the day, before the televisions beamed images of police having a faceoff with protesters in the city and elsewhere in the state, Stalin had also issued a statement condemning the government for autocratically unleashing cops on peaceful student protesters instead of negotiating with them democratically. 

Allies Congress and IUML had also walked out expressing solidarity with their ally leader. However, the DMK and its allies took part in the special Assembly session later in the evening and voted in support of the jallikattu Bill, which was passed unanimously by the House. The Leader of Opposition also accused the ruling AIADMK of failing to provide adequate compensation to the families of the farmers who had died under distress due to the drought.