DMK MLAs facing one week suspension, protest outside TN Assembly

Chennai: DMK MLAs led by Opposition leader MK Stalin staged a protest outside the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Thursday, a day after they were suspended en masse for a week for allegedly creating ruckus in the House.

The protesting MLAs, who staged a dharna, alleging that they were denied entry into the Assembly premises.

DMK MLAs CVMP Ezhilarasan said the party legislators were denied access to their room inside the Secretariat which also houses the Legislative Assembly.

Stalin was stopped by Assembly marshals who also locked the entry point leading to the House. After they were denied entry, the DMK MLAs, led by Stalin, sat on a dharna.

Meanwhile, security was stepped up in the Secretariat. On Wednesday, the Assembly witnessed uproarious scenes when DMK members protested remarks made by a ruling AIADMK member apparently ridiculing Stalin, culminating in their en masse eviction and suspension.

Speaker P Dhanapal ordered eviction of the DMK members by assembly marshals after they stood up and insisted on expunging of remarks even after he rejected their demand and asked them to cooperate for the smooth conduct of the House.

Later, the government moved a resolution suspending the DMK members for a week which was passed by a voice vote.