DMK MLAs suspended from TN assembly for remaining session

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam members were suspended on Thursday from the Tamil Nadu assembly for the rest of the session as the House was rocked by noisy scenes with the treasury benches sparring with them on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue.

Agitated DMK members were on their feet opposing Local Administration Minister KP Munusamy's remarks against their party chief M Karunanidhi on the Lankan Tamils issue.

Deputy Speaker R Jayaraman was in the chair when the minister made the remarks, with some DMK MLAs trooping near him, prompting him to summon the marshals to order their eviction en masse.

Congress members staged a walkout as various ministers, who intervened, charged the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance with showing little concern towards the plight of Lankan Tamils.

Congress member K Gopinath later informed the House of the various pro-Tamil measures taken up by the Centre including a Rs 500-crore grant and taking up of housing projects for the internally displaced Tamils.

Meanwhile, Speaker P Dhanapal said the conduct of the DMK MLAs was not in consonance with the dignity of the House and they had used objectionable words and remained standing near the chair. They had democratic means to register their protest, he said. He said he was suspending them for the rest of the session which is scheduled to end on Friday.