Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Speaker M. Appavu on Thursday reiterated his decision rejecting the AIADMK’s request to expunge certain remarks made by the Congress floor leader K. Selvaperunthagai regarding the stampede during the Mahamaham festival in Kumbakonam in February 1992, in which former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and her aide V.K. Sasikala participated.
A day after the AIADMK members were en masse evicted from the House, Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami repeated the request to expunge the remarks made by the Congress MLA, charging that he “deliberately made premeditated and defamatory comments” against the AIADMK in the House and it was not fair on the party.
Questioning the need for recalling an event which happened decades ago, Mr. Palaniswami said it should not become a precedent and reiterated his request to expunge Mr. Selvaperunthagai’s comment. However, the Chair maintained his ruling over the issue was final and that the Congress MLA had not said anything that was inappropriate.
