DMK alleges insult, stages walkout after discussion on removal of Tamil from postal examination

Thangam Thennarasu asked why the government was hesitating to adopt a resolution condemning the Centre for its efforts to impose Hindi.

Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi Palaniswami speaking at the Assembly.

CHENNAI: Members of DMK staged a walkout from the Assembly on Monday after taking an exception to a remark made by Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam when he replied to a special calling attention motion on removing Tamil from postal examination, which was moved by former School Education Minister Thangam Thennarasu.

Thangam Thennarasu asked how the State government would register our opposition to the removal of Tamil from the postal competitive examination held on Sunday. He also asked why the government was hesitating to adopt a resolution condemning the Centre for its efforts to impose Hindi.

D Jayakumar, Minister for Personnel and Administrative Reforms, replied, “Both DMK and AIADMK are sailing in the same boat over the Hindi imposition issue. Our AIADMK Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members will raise the issue in Parliament on Tuesday and your (DMK) members should do the same. The State government will act accordingly after coming to know the Centre’s stand on this issue.” 

O Panneerselvam intervened and said, “The DMK members have already decided to stage a walkout. Hence, they are not satisfied with the answer given by Jayakumar.”Duraimurugan, DMK deputy floor leader said, “Initially minister Jayakumar said both of us are sailing in the same boat. That’s why we questioned the ruling party’s hesitation to adopt a resolution, but the Deputy CM is insulting us, saying that we are searching for a  reason to stage walkout.”

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said, “We should wait for a  day to know the Centre’s decision.  The State government will fight to put an end to the Hindi imposition efforts.” However, the DMK staged a walkout, followed by members of the Congress and the lone Indian Union Muslim League member.

Detailed project reports being prepared for the following

• Bypass roads in 10 towns - Avalurpettai, Kallakuruchi, Virudhachalam, Pappireddipatti, Jalakandapuram, Avinashi, Gudalur,  Thuraiyur (part -3), Theni and Bodinayakkanur
• Major flyovers at Halda Junction to Light House via Adyar, Greenways Road and Santhome Highway, Vadapalani- Porur, Little Mount-Velachery outer ring road, Ambattur telephone exchange junction, Basin Bridge junction at Wall Tax road and Vyasarpadi Junction near Ambedkhar College 
• Foot overbridges at DAV School in Mogappair and Ambattur Industrial Estate bus stand 
• A new road along the Adyar river from Thiru Vi Ka Bridge to Maraimalai Adigal bridge in Saidapet  
• Flyovers in seven places – Padappai (Kancheepuram), Hosur inner ring road (Krishnagiri), SSVN Palli to Swastik Corner (Erode), Santhaipettai (Tirupur), Mattuthavani and Anna bus stands (Madurai)
• Rail overbridges in Madurai, Thiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts 
• Elevated bridges at 32 places across rivers in Tiruvannamalai, Kallakuruchi, Erode, Perambalur, Coimbatore, Salem, Tiruchy, Pudukottai and Thanjavur districts 

Highways dept gets a fillip; to construct13 new flyovers

Rs 1,122 crore 
Allotted for land acquisition for 18 projects under the Chennai City Traffic Decongestion Project (CCTDP) funded by New Development Bank. The projects are construction of 13 flyovers at Kattupakkam, Akkarai, Ambattur, Avadi, Madhavaram, Kundrathur, Kaiveli, Selaiyur, Madhya Kailash and Madipakkam; widening of two rail overbridges at Korattur and Ambattur railway stations and building two foot over bridges at Kendriya Vidyalaya and Tambaram 

‘U’ shape bridge would be constructed at Tidel Park junction on the Rajiv Gandhi Salai at a cost of Rs 110 crore
 

42 river-bridges 
In 17 districts for the benefit of 379 villages across the State would be built at a cost of Rs 155.8 crore
 

1,456 kms  
Of rural roads would be upgraded at an estimated cost of Rs 1,456  crore

Construction of bridge at ECR-LB road junction at Thiruvanmiyur, widening of Thiruvamiyur-Akkarai ECR road into six lanes and widening of Tambaram East bypass road would be taken up at a cost of Rs 299 crore

The State highway and district roads in Thanjavur district would be maintained under Performance Based Maintenance Contracts (PBMC) system 
All approach roads to Dhandayuthapani Swamy temple in Palani would be developed at a cost of Rs 58.50 crore