Chennai: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MLA and party whip EV Velu launched a sharp attack on Tuesday against the Tamil Nadu administration and Speaker JCD Prabhakar after assembly marshals forcibly removed DMK lawmakers from the House during a protest over Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s remarks on the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA).

Velu characterised the Speaker’s directive as "the height of an undemocratic government," maintaining that the DMK was pursuing a legitimate inquiry regarding the state's law and order situation.

“What we asked for is an answer on the current worsening law and order situation in Tamil Nadu, but the CM diverted the issue and spoke about the MISA Act. The Sarkaria Commission didn't prove anyone guilty; hence, we asked the Speaker to expunge those portions, but the Speaker refused to do it,” Velu told reporters outside the chamber.

“The Speaker has forcefully evicted us from the House for raising a fair demand. It is the height of an undemocratic government and an undemocratic act. The DMK government ran a real government, but TVK is running a reel government,” he added.

DMK members had staged a sit-in demonstration outside the Speaker’s office earlier on Tuesday, protesting remarks delivered by Vijay during Monday’s legislative proceedings. The demonstration spilt into the chamber, leading to disruptions that prompted the Speaker to order assembly marshals to clear the opposition members from the floor.

Velu had previously raised points of order inside the House, contending that referring to active vigilance investigations breached parliamentary protocol.

“Reading out cases is an act that violates tradition. Yesterday the Chief Minister had spoken about MISA and the Sarkaria Commission. Reading out Vigilance cases during the Chief Minister’s reply is a violation of tradition. Comments cannot be made on cases that are under investigation,” he stated.

Speaker JCD Prabhakar rejected the DMK’s formal request to expunge Vijay’s references to MISA, stating the Chief Minister had merely cited matters previously debated within the legislature.

The standoff follows heated exchanges on Monday when DMK members staged a walkout after Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin was initially denied an immediate right of reply to accusations levelled by Vijay against the former DMK government.

In his address, Vijay cited Enforcement Directorate documents, the findings of the Sarkaria Commission, and alleged financial irregularities during earlier DMK terms.

The DMK has denied all allegations, questioning their legal and evidentiary validity.

Public Works Department Minister Aadhav Arjuna accused the DMK of repeatedly creating disruptions in the House to prevent him from delivering his scheduled remarks.

ANI