The opposition DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) members in Tamil Nadu Assembly were today evicted from the house after a pandemonium broke out inside the assembly when they shouted slogans demanding permission to raise the Times Now and Moon TV exposed the alleged cash-for-vote scam. Then DMK legislators including MK Stalin, working president of DMK and others party legislators started the protest against their eviction from the house at the Rajaji Salai opposite to the secretariat and shouted slogans. They detained by police after they blocked traffic outside the assembly complex. They were later released.
Mr. P Dhanpal, the speaker, said that the issue was sub-judice and it cannot be discussed as it ordered the eviction of the MLAs, including the Leader of Opposition Mr. Stalin when they insisted on raising the said issue.
In a sting investigation carried out by Times Now and Moon TV has exposed some video footage purportedly showing that an AIADMK (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) MLA (Member of Legislative Assembly) paid bribes by ruling party general secretary V K Sasikala, in return for supporting the Palaniswami government ahead of the trust vote which was sought and won by the K Palaniswami government on February 18. The sting also showed a legislator supporting the former chief minister O Paneerselvam (OPS) saying that the bribe was paid by the OPS camp in a bid to get MLAs to switch sides.
After the House assembled at 10 am, DMK working president and opposition leader MK Stalin raised the issue of cash for vote MLA sting in Tamil Nadu assembly. However, the assembly speaker P Dhanapal refused to grant permission to raise the issue as the matter is in the Madras high court and the MLA who was caught in the camera also had denied any involvement. They flashed some copies of newspaper and shouted slogans against the speaker for the permission. The speaker repeatedly pleaded them for their cooperation fo a smooth running of the house for nearly 45 minutes. After 45 minutes of pandemonium MK Stalin and 86 DMK MLAs escorted out by the marshals from the Assembly and staged a demonstration outside the House of Congress MLAs and the lone IUML (Indian Union Muslim League) member who also joined them. They were detained by the police and later moved to a nearby marriage hall. The party president M Karunanidhi, who is not keeping well was not present in the assembly on that day.
The working president, MK Stalin sought the dismissal of the AIADMK government on the alleged scam and demanding CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) inquiry into the case. He also said that they prepared to corner the Palaniswami government over the cash-for-votes scam because of which the RK Nagar by-poll had to be canceled. The DMK severely criticized the ruling AIADMK government over the matter alleging that the party’s inter-relationship was purchased and not natural.
