DMK walks out saying govt not ready to face civic polls

Recalling the legal wrangles the civic poll issue was caught in since last year, DMK legislator S Austin, who participated in the debate on the amendment bill, reiterated that his party (DMK) did not pray for striking down an earlier notification of the SEC and they were ready to face elections any time, but it was the Madras High Court that had suo motu struck down the notification. 

Asserting that there was no stay on conducting the elections now and the government was free to hold it any time, Austin said the amendment extending the tenure of special officers was “unacceptable” and the ruling party was not prepared to face the local body elections. 

Joining the issue, Congress whip S Vijayadharani said the delay in conduct of the elections would cause further strain on the people and it would be difficult to avail funds for various Centre-sponsored schemes.

Also, participating in the debate, IUML MLA Abu Backer, who demanded immediate conduct of the civic polls, said the special officers did not cooperate when they had raised people’s civic woes. 

Intervening in the debate, Velumani described as ‘temporary’ the amendments, which would be set aside as soon as the courts passed orders on the cases. 

Not content with the Minister’s reasoning, Leader of Opposition MK Stalin reiterated that they had opposed the Bill even at the introductory phase, before marshalling his MLAs out of the House in condemnation of the government putting the Bill to voice vote, which was successfully passed by the House moments later. Congress legislature party joined its ally DMK and walked out of the House, citing the same reason. 

The state on Saturday announced an award of Rs 10 lakh to a team of six young students from Karur for developing a satellite, which was flown by NASA on June 22. Making a statement under Rule 110 in the Assembly, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisamy said the award was to encourage the students to achieve more laurels in future. Congratulating the students, he said the team led by 18-year-old Md Rifath Shaarook, who developed the satellite, has brought laurels to the country and the state. 

The DMK on Saturday expressed concern over equipment used by differently abled persons coming under the GST. During a debate in the Assembly, Opposition Leader MK Stalin said many equipment used by such persons were earlier exempted from taxes but now, Goods and Services rates between 5-12 per cent were applied on them. “The differently abled persons are affected due to this. Has the government taken up the matter with the Centre,” he asked. Commercial Taxes Minister KC Veeramani replied to it.