A brief session of 25 minutes was conducted during a one-day winter session, held to comply with constitutional requirement, before it was adjourned on Friday.
Opposition MLAs belonging to Congress, AIADMK and DMK, led by the Leader of Opposition V Vaithilingam were up on their feet demanding the Speaker, V Sabapathy, to allow them raise issues concerning people, by displaying the issues they wanted to raise on paper sheets. However, they were not given the opportunity.
Among the issues displayed were financial assistance to CENTAC sponsored students, housing subsidy for BPL people under Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Scheme, growth going down by two percent from 9 percent, single boiled rice distribution through PDS, elusive re-employment of retrenched government employees, diesel subsidy for Karaikal farmers and fishermen, and delay in conducting local body elections.
Five AIADMK MLAs, A Anbazhagan (floor leader), Om Sakthi Segar, L Periyasamy, P Purushottaman and A Baskar staged a walk out protesting against the Speaker not providing them with the opportunity. The Congress and DMK however remained on their feet displaying the issues till the session was winded up by the speaker.
Earlier the Legislative Assembly passed Value Added Tax (VAT) bill providing exemption from the levy of VAT for certain items in Canteen stores of Defence personnel and Ex-servicemen. Chief Minister N Rangasamy moved the bill, which was passed by voice vote. The exemption, which was already granted through a notification, was ratified by passing of the amendments in the Assembly.
The Assembly also condoled the death of former Prime Minister I K Gujral.