DMK MLA Anbazhagan suspended, TN Assembly witness noisy scenes

The Tamil Nadu Assembly today witnessed noisy scenes and heated exchanges following a remark made in 'singular' against a Minister by an Opposition DMK MLA, who also tore the copies of the Governor's address and threw at the Speaker's chair resulting in his suspension for the rest of the session.

After the House adopted a resolution moved by Deputy Chief Minister and Leader of the House O Panneerselvam to suspend DMK MLA J Anbazhagan, Speaker P Dhanapal said the suspension would continue till the next session when the House would reassemble for tabling the Budget.

However, on a request from DMK President and leader of the Opposition M K Stalin and Deputy Leader Duraimurugan, the Speaker said the DMK MLA was suspended for this session that would end on January nine.

Speaking on the debate after Deputy Speaker Pollachi R Jayaraman moved the motion of thanks to the Governor for his address, DMK MLA J Anbazhagan sought to know on what basis the State was ranked No.1 on the law and order front and made several charges against the ruling AIADMK prompting sharp replies from the treasury benches..

Intervening Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami ''we did not say we are Number One. The ranking was given by the Central government based on several parameters and statistics'

When Municipal Administration and Rural Development Minister S P Velumani rose to speak on the issue, Anbazhagan made a remark in 'singular' tone, leading to noisy scenes.

Members of both the Opposition and ruling party rose from their seats, angrily gesticulated at each other, leading to noisy scenes for nearly 15 minutes.

The Speaker warned the DMK MLA for his remark and said stringent action would be taken.

When Panneerselvam said a resolution should be adopted in the House to evict Anbazhagan, Dhanapal said he would seriously consider it.

To this, Stalin accepted that it was a mistake, expressed regret for the remarks and said he was ready to apologise and Anbazhagan too expressed regret and would apologise.

Intervening, the Chief Minister said of all the opposition MLAs, Anbazhagan was the only troublesome member and everyone including the Deputy Leader of the Opposition knows about it.

He said Anbazhagan was deviating from the Governor's address and was deliberately giving wrong facts to the House.

After Panneerselvam sought to put an end to the issue by saying that by following Anna's (former CM and dravidian stalwart C N Annadurai) words ''let us forget and forgive", the Speaker ended the speech of Anbazhagan and asked another member to speak.

Upset over this, Anbazhagan tore the copies of the Governor's address and threw at Speaker's Chair, following which the House adopted a resolution to suspend him for the rest of the session.