Opposition DMK evicted from TN Assembly

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Members of the opposition DMK were evicted from the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Saturday for disrupting proceedings, even as they alleged a ruling AIADMK legislator had thrown a book at them in the House.

Trouble started after DMK leader Duraimurugan protested against Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's remarks about a senior DMK leader without mentioning his name.

Speaker D. Jayakumar said the Chief Minister had not mentioned any individual's name and refused permission for the DMK to talk.

At one point, members of DMK and AIADMK shouted slogans at each other. DMK members were up on their feet demanding the Speaker to allow Duraimurugan to respond. The Speaker soon ordered the Assembly marshals to evict the party members.

"They suspended Opposition Leader Vijaykanth from the Assembly for raising his voice. Will the Speaker act against the AIADMK legislator who threw books at us? As we can see, there is no security for Opposition members," Duraimurugan later told reporters outside the Assembly.

"Ruling party member Vetrivel threw books on our members. If ruling members attack us in front of the Chief Minister, Speaker and members of the Opposition, does this Assembly have democracy?" he asked.

Earlier, Jayalalithaa without mentioning DMK chief M Karunanidhi slammed him for stating that his party's loss in the April 2011 elections was that of the people. She said the people's verdict is final in a democracy.