AIADMK leaders suspended from Tamil Nadu Assembly for protesting against hooch deaths

Pressure is meanwhile mounting on the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government, with several leaders of the main opposition party All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) being suspended on Tuesday from the remainder of the assembly session for protesting the hooch deaths.

Among those evicted from the House was former Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami. This marks the third eviction of AIADMK MLAs during this session, which ends on June 29.

The same day, Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) general secretary Premalatha Vijayakanth led a demonstration in Kallakurichi to demand a CBI probe. She also criticised Chief Minister M.K. Stalin for not visiting the district and demanded the resignation of Minister for Excise and Prohibition S. Muthusamy.
Governor R N Ravi also voiced his dissatisfaction with the state government’s handling of the incident, even saying that the district administration’s denial of the tragedy suggests a “connivance”.

The National Commission for Women (NCW) has also taken suo motu cognisance of the incident and has tasked BJP leader Khushbu Sundar to lead a three-member inquiry panel to investigate reports that six women had died in the tragedy.

Soon after AIADMK leaders’ suspension from the House Tuesday, Stalin, who was also present, criticised Palaniswami for avoiding a debate on the issue. Meanwhile, Water Resources Minister Duraimurugan accused the AIADMK of evading responsibility, asserting that the CM would “expose “their failures during past hooch tragedies.