DMK holds mock assembly siting to protest against Speaker Dhanpal’s decision to suspend DMK MLAs.

The opposition DMK on Friday held a mock assembly session to protest against the speaker P Dhanapal for suspending most of its MLAs on Wednesday.

Deputy leader of opposition, Durai Murugan enacted the role of the Speaker and mocked Dhanapal when he dismissed questions from the members and admonished them for their poor understanding on the knowledge of house procedures. Also he criticized the members for the poor quality of their questions.

“You sit down. First go and learn how to ask questions,” “speaker” Durai Murugan admonished a DMK member when he raised a question about poverty.

Friday’s sitting of the mock assembly began after “Speaker” Durai Murugan called the house to ordere, read out a Thirukkural and immediately announced the Question Hour.

Few questions raised were quashed by the Speaker so as to highlight Speaker Dhanapal’s attitude towards the opposition members.

The most interesting aspect of the mock assembly was that leader of opposition, MK Stalin, sat in the “chief minister’s” chair, the first chair on the right hand side column.

If on Thursday, a day after suspension, the DMK MLAs led by Stalin staged a sit in outside the assembly gate, on Friday, they conducted a mock assembly to protest against the suspension.

The highly dramatized version of the mock assembly saw wit, sarcasm and humour flow seamlessly and laughter was loud and cheering MLAs enjoyed the session under the open skies.

The drama was played out amid heavy security, with a strong police posse and watch and ward staff maintained a close vigil and alert to prevent any untoward incident.

As soon as the “Question Hour” was over, Stalin raised the Cauvery issue, condemned the Karnataka government for its decision to construct a new dam at Mekedatu on Cauvery river. This would further reduce water supply to Tamil Nadu and “we will never allow it to happen,” he said.

Later, Stalin told media persons the idea behind the mock assembly session. “We wanted to highlight how the house was being run at present, with the opposition voice being stifled. We have been demanding live telecast of proceedings. If it is done, then people can make out who is at fault, us or the ruling party, Stalin said.

The mock assembly proceedings lasted about one hour. Deputy leader of opposition, Durai Murugan enacted the role of the speaker and Stalin sat in the chief minister’s chair in the mock session.
“We have shown the way as to how the assembly should be conducted,” Stalin said.

“Even today the DMK MLAs, Congress MLAs and IUML MLAs sought reconsideration of the suspension of 80 DMK MLAs, but Speaker Dhanapal had rejected it outright. “There is no question of revoking the suspension,” the speaker told opposition MLAs who pleaded for revoking the suspension.

Meanwhile, a DMK petition challenging the suspension of MLAs was filed in the Madras High Court. Stalin told media persons that the petition was admitted and was slated to come up for hearing on Monday.