Vocal Dhinakaran takes government to task on police firing

Dhinakaran, referring to Chief Minister’s report on the incident tabled in the House, wanted to know why was the prohibitory orders promulgated when permission for a peaceful protest in the ground near bus stand was already granted. 

While taking exceptions to remarks that rival parties have orchestrated the protests owing to their vendetta, Dhinakaran wanted to know why the CM has invoked intrusion of anti-social elements into the protest and what the police was doing meanwhile. 

On being interjected by the ruling party members, Dhinakaran noted that the ruling party legislators had no locus standi to interrupt as they did not have the courage to meet the victims until May 28. 

“You could not even go inside,” Dhinakaran snapped back. Dhinakaran said people were not in favour of the inquiry commission or the CB-CID inquiry but a CBI probe into the firing and those responsible for the firing should be brought to books. 

“Either Chief Justice or High Court should monitor the probe,” he said. Dhinakaran made some remarks on state’s legal fight over Cauvery dispute which was subsequently expunged from the Assembly records. Minister P Thangamani, who locked horns with Dhinakaran getting worked up with intrusion of anti-social elements, sought the expunging. As there was continuous objection from treasury benches on references relating to the killings, Deputy Leader of Opposition Duraimurugan wondered how they would then describe the death. 

Duraimurugan said, “You do not want us to call the killings as coldblooded murders. We will then call the deceased as ‘those shot at.’ The fact remains that you shot. Those shot at had closed their eyes and died. Would that fit your bill?” Chief Minister Palaniswami shot back at Duraimurugan stating that he too was armed with a list of firings reported during the DMK regime. Meanwhile, the act of Speaker P Dhanapal, who addressed Dhinakaran as ‘honourable’ member repeatedly during the debate had given a hand to the DMK members to prod the ruling party legislators.