CHENNAI: Water Resources Minister N Anand and PWD Minister Aadhav Arjuna, on Monday defended the Tamil Nadu Government's demand for setting up of a separate tribunal to adjudicate Mekedatu dam dispute citing fresh legal issues that have cropped up regarding this matter. However the AIADMK and Left parties stoutly opposed the demand for a new tribunal.
Interestingly, the ruling TVK and the principal opposition party in the Assembly - the DMK are on the same page on a separate tribunal for Mekedatu issue while the AIADMK and Left parties are opposing the proposal contending that a tribunal will be detrimental to Tamil Nadu's interests.
The AIADMK MLAs led by its general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami staged a walk out over the Speaker's refusal to raise a privilege issue regarding the amendment on the demand for separate tribunal on Mekedatu issue. Despite repeated requests, the Speaker did not allow Palaniswami to raise the issue.
Outside the Assembly, Palaniswami said that the Assembly Rules and established conventions were completely violated during the adoption of the Government Resolution on June 19. He said that although the Leader of the Opposition had submitted an amendment, it was neither circulated to all Members nor formally moved, seconded, debated or put to vote as required under the Rules.
"Despite this, the Chief Minister announced that the amendment would be accepted and incorporated into the resolution, and the Speaker put the amended resolution to vote. The amendment was communicated in advance only to the Chief Minister, who read out a prepared response in the House. This amounted to a breach of the rights and privileges of Members and a violation of Assembly procedures", Palaniswami contended.
