Even as Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) founder Vijayakant on Thursday appeared before a court in Tirunelveli in a case filed by the State government for making defamatory remarks against Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, his party deputy leader in the State Assembly, S Ramachandran, heaped praise on the Chief Minister for her magnanimity in recommending restoration of the privilege for initiating discussions on demands for grants for various departments to the DMDK.
Referring to Speaker P Dhanapal announcement on Wednesday that members of the DMDK would again be allowed to initiate debates in the Assembly, Ramachandran, during Zero Hour, said Jayalalithaa’s magnanimity in the issue was really appreciable.
“Jesus Christ said if anyone slaps you on your cheek, show your other cheek too to that person.
Saint Tiruvalluvar went one step ahead and said the worthiness of a person is judged by his magnanimity in doing good to those who have injured him earlier”, he added.
“I thank the Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa for her noble gesture. I promise all our cooperation to the Speaker in conducting the proceedings of the House in a smooth manner. I also thank the leaders of opposition parties who have spoken for the DMDK members,” Ramachandran said.
Intervening, Electricity Minister R Viswanathan said Tiruvalluvar had also said “Punish an evil doer by shaming him with a good deed, and forget.”
The deputy leader of the DMDK should have quoted that Kural too, he added.
To the surprise of the DMDK members, Ramachandran also made a remark when leaders of the opposition parties urged the Speaker to reverse his decision to bar the DMK members from participating in the budget session till the end of the session on May 16. Joining them, Ramachandran said, “It is a time for filing mercy petitions. As such, please consider the demand of the opposition members.”
Responding to the volley of praises bestowed on him, the Speaker said if he had to revoke his ruling on the DMK members, then the rules of the House had to be re-written.