TN Speaker again rules out revoking suspension of DMK MLAs

Chennai, Aug 19 (PTI) Tamil Nadu Speaker P Dhanapal todayonce again ruled out reconsidering the suspension of DMK MLAson Wednesday for allegedly creating a ruckus in the House,even as the suspended legislators continued to protest theaction. Led by Opposition Leader MK Stalin and DMK Deputy LeaderDurai Murugan, the suspended DMK MLAs staged a ‘modelassembly’ session outside the House. The Speaker, responding to pleas by DMK’s KN Nehru, whowas not among those suspended since he was not present in theHouse on August 17, made it clear that there was no reviewingof his decision to suspend the agitating DMK legislators for aweek. "I was very patient that day and had to finally takeaction," he said about his decision to suspend the MLAs, evenas DMK found support from allies, Congress and IUML, who alsosought revoking the suspension order. Seven of the nine non-suspended DMK legislators, who werenot present in the House on Wednesday, along with Congress andIUML members subsequently staged a walkout. Dhanapal had yesterday refused to revoke the en massesuspension of 80 DMK members. The suspended members had stageda protest outside the House and their colleagues inside twicestaged a walkout over the issue. Later, speaking to reporters , Stalin said the suspendedMLAs had held a ‘model assembly’ where they were informed inadvance that only people’s issues should be discussed andnothing else. The ‘model assembly’ was led by Durai Murugan as’Speaker’, he added. Stalin reiterated his demand for live broadcast ofAssembly proceedings, saying that will help in identifying onwho "committed mistakes." PTI SA BNDV