PUDUCHERRY: Heated exchanges took place in the Legislative Assembly between the opposition AIADMK members and the Treasury Bench over the issue of traffic being held up for more than more than 20 minutes at the busy Marapalam junction to enable Chief Minister N Rangasamy’s car cross the junction.
Making a special mention during Zero Hour in the Assembly, A Baskar (AIADMK) said that traffic came to a standstill for more than 20 minutes in the busy junction on Cuddalore road. Baskar added that he too was travelling on the same road and then got down from his car to make inquiries. The police told him that the Chief Minister would be passing that way and hence the traffic movement was suspended.
The MLA questioned the necessity of blocking traffic for such a long time just to enable the Chief Minister’s car to pass through. This led to a heated exchange between AIADMK members and the Treasury Bench. There were also references made to Chief Ministers of other States and VIP movements.
The House was drowned in noisy scenes with members of the ruling AINRC, including Ministers, disputing the complaint of the AIADMK member. When the MLA kept on harping on the issue, the Speaker V Sabapathy intervened and reminded him that he was speaking during the `zero hour’ and could not go on. Since the MLA continued to speak, the Speaker switched off his mike and asked the next member to speak.
Baskar then rushed towards the podium and argued with the Speaker over his inviting another member to speak even when he had not completed his representation. AIADMK leader A Anbalagan, who is Baskar’s older brother, pacified him following which he returned to his seat.
AINRC MLA Bhalan also sought the trengthening of security for MLAs, citing lack of regulation on the Assembly premises.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, he referred to a video being taken in an arbitrary way and posted on social networking websites. He also urged the government to regularise the nearly 600 temporary staff workers.
Rs 1 crore aid for kashmir
Puducherry: Chief Minister, N Rangasamy announced an assistance of Rs 1 crore for the flood-affected people of Jammu and Kashmir during Zero Hour in the Territorial Assembly. He added the government employees are free to donate one-day’s salary, if they desired.
‘no send-off To kataria’
Puducherry: AIADMK and DMK MLAs on Monday criticised the Territorial government for not according a proper send-off to the former Lieutenant Governor Virendra Kataria after he demitted office. Their views evoked no response from the Chief Minister N Rangasamy, or other members.