MLA evicted over objection to FM’s talk

It all began when Finance Minister D Jayakumar made some remarks over former chief minister and the DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi, while replying to the fishermen’s issue and it had all the DMK MLAs present up on their feet demanding to expunge the remarks.

Chepauk MLA J Anbazhagan countered Jayakumar with another remark forcing the Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami to take exception. As the situation precipitated, Leader of the House and School Education Minister KA Sengottaiyan requested the Deputy Speaker Pollachi V Jayaraman, who was in the Chair in the absence of the Speaker P Dhanapal to necessitate action against Anbazhagan. 

On Jayaraman’s orders, the House Marshals evicted Anbazhagan, who was also suspended for the rest of the day. As Deputy Leader of Opposition Durai Murugan suggested the Chair to reconsider the ruling, Jayaraman observed that the legislator charged towards the Well leaving his seat and brought disrepute to the House. Spurned, the Opposition DMK staged a walk-out and returned to the proceedings in a short while. 

The second round of exchanges begun when the DMK MLA Poongothai Aladi Aruna asserted ‘108’ Ambulance service as flagship scheme of her party. Health Minister C Vijaya Baskar disputed the claim and maintained that the free Ambulance service (1056) was launched by former CM J Jayalalithaa during her regime in 2004 on a trial basis in Theni district. ‘The same was extended to 29 districts with 187 Ambulances with each having a separate district control room for 1056, and run in partnership with a local NGO,” the Minister said. DMK MLAs KKSSR Ramachandran and MRK Panneerselvam claimed otherwise. The same was raked up later in the evening by DMK MLA R Masilamani. In reply, Vijayabaskar observed that DMK only centralised the service with the help of a service provider and by altering the service number to 108 from 1056 and that could be the only thing which DMK can claim credit for.

Congress MLA S Vijayadharani, in a lighter vein, suggested both the DMK and AIADMK can take turns to enjoy credit for the emergency services offered under 108. “It is pertinent to note that it was rolled out during Congress regime in Centre,” as the treasury benches broke into laughter. 

The third wave of exchange took place as Masilamani made some remarks on the ruling party and Electricity Minister P Thangamani retorted, prompting Durai Murugan to object. The DMK MLAs boycotted Vijayabaskar’s reply on demands and staged a walkout.