The speaker also suspends all DMK MLAs for one week after finance minister O Panneerselvam moved a resolution seeking suspension of DMK members

Uniformed Marshals of Tamil Nadu assembly on Wednesday carried DMK legislative party leader MK Stalin out of the House after Speaker P Dhanpal ordered the mass eviction and suspension of all DMK members from the assembly for one week.

The speaker took the action after the DMK members created ruckus following an uncharitable remark by an AIADMK member, Gunaeskharan, that Stalin’s Namme Namme resulted only in touring the entire state but failing to capture power.

A battery of still and video cameramen crowded the entrance of the assembly where the Marshals deposited Stalin after carrying him outside from the House as per the Speaker’s orders.

Stalin told media persons that today’s action by the speaker as also of the ruling party members was another example of the attitude of the ruling party that does not seem to want the opposition party in the House.

“It is a conspiracy to deny the DMK a chance to participate in important discussions. The chief minister and the speaker have conspired to get the DMK MLAs suspended,” Stalin charged, maintaining that the DMK was acting as a responsible opposition party to the best of its ability.

But today’s incident, triggered by uncharitable remarks of AIADMK member Gunasekharan over Stalin’s Nammakku Naame mass contact programme, had the entire DMK benches up in arms, shouting and demanding that the remarks be expunged.

The AIADMK MLA said, without naming Stalin, that some people had undertaken Nammakku Naame but failed to capture power. They only went around the state, he said, evoking sharp and vociferous response from the opposition benches.

Stalin and deputy legislative party leader Durai Murugan were not present when the AIADMK member made the remarks. DMK leaders demanded that these remarks be expunged.

When Stalin came back, he too sought the remarks be expunged.

Speaker Dhanpal did not find anything wrong with the remarks as the MLA had not named anyone. He asked the DMK members to maintain silence and when his pleadings failed to pacify the DMK members, he ordered their eviction.

He also ordered the suspension of all the 88 members of the DMK for one week.

Stalin alleged that the suspension was only to deny the DMK a chance to participate in important discussions.

The DMK leader asserted that his party was participating in all discussions, with decorum and responsibility. It is the ruling party that does not seem to tolerate a vigilant and effective opposition party, Stalin alleged.