AIADMK memebers walk out of Pondy assembly on budget debate

Puducherry, Aug 30 (PTI): The opposition AIADMK staged awalkout in the Puducherry Assembly today,alleging violation ofrules of business during a debate on the budget. As soon as the House disposed of the question and answerpart of today’s session and took up the scheduled business ofdebate on budget presented by the Chief Minister yesterday,AIADMK legislature wing leader A Anbalagan said the rulesclearly said the House could take up budget debate only aftergiving 48 hours notice to the members. "Taking up the debate just a day after its presentationis violation of the rules of business and the rules wereframed by the President," he said adding that there could beno debate on the budget without following the rule. Speaker V Vaithilingam told the member that the schedulefor debate was discussed and decided at the Business AdvisoryCommittee, of which Anbalagan was also part of. After accepting the schedule, the member was nowraising objection,the Speaker said triggering heated argumentsbetween Anbalagan and some in the treasury benches. DMK legislator R Siva said that Anbalagan after bindinghimself by the decision of the Business Advisory Committee,was now taking a different stand, demanding a gap of 48 hoursafter presentation of the budget. Anbalagan said he had clearly stated at the meeting thatthere should be 48 hour gap before holding the debate. He said if the rules were not followed, then holdingof debate was in violation of the statutory provisions. After registering his protest, Anbalagan and threeother party legislators walked out of the House. The members did not return for the remaining part ofthe session which went ahead with the debate on the budget.PTI COR ROH APRAPR