The DMK has lodged a breach of privilege complaint against Tamil Nadu Law Minister R. Nirmal Kumar with the Assembly Speaker, accusing him of presenting false and factually incorrect information during the recent Budget session. The complaint, submitted by a delegation of DMK legislators led by Assembly whip E.V. Velu, specifically targets remarks made by the minister concerning former Chief Ministers M. Karunanidhi and M.K. Stalin, as well as the Sarkaria Commission.
According to the DMK legislators, the Law Minister’s statements violated the Assembly’s rules and conventions, which stipulate that members should not make allegations against individuals not present in the House. They argued that providing misleading information to the legislature constitutes a breach of its privileges. The DMK delegation urged the Speaker to refer the matter to the Privileges Committee for scrutiny and further action.
This action by the DMK follows a previous complaint filed against Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay for alleged false statements made regarding former Chief Ministers M. Karunanidhi and M.K. Stalin. The DMK has also sought an update on an earlier petition demanding the removal of the Chief Minister’s remarks on the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) from the Assembly records.
The DMK legislators accused the ruling party of attempting to divert public attention from pressing governance issues by raising what they described as baseless controversies. They contended that the government was relying on such controversies instead of addressing questions raised by the Opposition regarding public concerns. The political confrontation between the ruling party and the DMK within the Assembly has seen several flashpoints.
The DMK has previously been involved in privilege-related matters within the Tamil Nadu Assembly. In 2017, a privilege motion was filed against several DMK MLAs, including current Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, for waving gutka packets in the House to highlight the violation of a ban. While the Madras High Court had initially stayed these proceedings, a later ruling reinstated them, emphasizing the importance of legislative accountability and the dignity of the House. The court also noted that privilege proceedings could continue beyond the dissolution of an Assembly.
The current complaint against Law Minister R. Nirmal Kumar and the earlier one against Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay are part of an ongoing political tussle. The Speaker has not yet announced a decision on either the privilege complaint against the Law Minister or the request to expunge the Chief Minister’s MISA remarks.
The DMK legislators expressed hope that the Privileges Committee would examine the allegations and recommend appropriate action. The dispute highlights the intense political dynamics within Tamil Nadu’s legislative assembly and the use of privilege motions as a tool in inter-party conflicts.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
