le : Regarding arrest of DMK’s MLAs in Tamil Nadu.
SHRI C. KUPPUSAMI (MADRAS NORTH): Sir, I am thankful to you for giving me time to raise a very important issue about Tamil Nadu. Not only the parliamentary democracy but the entire democracy has been murdered in Tamil Nadu. No Opposition Party MLA is allowed to raise any issue in the Assembly.… (Interruptions) Today the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Ms. Jayalalithaa raised an issue under Rule 110 in which she accused the Party MLA Shri Arcot Veeraswamy, former Minister of Tamil Nadu. … (Interruptions)
When he rose to reply to the allegation, he was not allowed. Unfortunately, all the MLAs of DMK party were forcibly evicted from the House. Protesting against the attitude of the speaker, all Opposition MLAs staged a walk-out and protested in front of the Assembly. They have been arrested now. They have been kept under custody now. So, there is no rule of law and there is no democracy. Constitutional functioning and democratic norms have been miserably failed in Tamil Nadu. We demand that the hon. Home Minister should come forward with a statement before the House. … (Interruptions)
SHRI E. PONNUSWAMY (CHIDAMBARAM): Sir, the Minister should respond to it. … (Interruptions)
SHRI A. KRISHNASWAMY : Sir, the Home Minister should intervene in the matter. The Central Government should intervene in this matter. All the MLAs have been arrested and kept in the police station.
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Please listen to me.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI E. PONNUSWAMY : We want a statement from the Home Minister. … (Interruptions)
SHRI A. KRISHNASWAMY : Mr. Deputy-Speaker, Sir, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs is here right now and he can respond to the matter. Sir, all the MLAs have been arrested. They have been brutally attacked. They have been kept in the police station. … (Interruptions)
SHRI GHULAM NABI AZAD: At this stage, I can only say that we share the anxiety of the hon. Members. I do not know whether we can do anything, but I can only tell the Home Minister. Under such circumstances, I do not think much can be done from here. … (Interruptions)
SHRI A. KRISHNASWAMY : No, Sir. … (Interruptions)
SHRI E. PONNUSWAMY : All the MLAs have been arrested and kept in the police station. The leader of the alliance, Dr. Kalaignar, is also there in the police station. We request for an intervention from the Centre. … (Interruptions)
SHRI A. KRISHNASWAMY : We request that the Prime Minister should intervene in the matter and the Home Minister should respond. … (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs is giving you an assurance. I think, now the matter should be settled.