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Uproar in Lok Sabha as DMK members protest over lamp lighting row in Tamil Nadu
The DMK was protesting with regard to a controversy over allowing devotees of the Arulmigu Subramanya Swamy Temple in Madurai to light the traditional Karthigai Deepam lamp at the 'Deepathoon' site.
As the debate progressed, BJP MPs dialled up both the historical sweep and the political temperature. (Sansad TV/YouTube)
Lok Sabha saw noisy scenes and disruption on Friday amid protests by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) members over the lamp lighting row in Tamil Nadu, with the House seeing an adjournment of proceedings till noon.
The DMK-led Tamil Nadu government had on Thursday moved the Supreme Court against a Madras High Court order permitting devotees of the Arulmigu Subramanya Swamy Temple to light the traditional Karthigai Deepam lamp at ‘Deepathoon’, a stone pillar located on the Thirupparankundram Hill close to a dargah.
On Friday, as soon as Lok Sabha assembled at 11 am, DMK members, including T R Baalu, tried to raise the issue. They came into the Well, protesting and raising slogans. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla urged the party members to return to their seats and let the House take up Question Hour. However, they continued shouting slogans. Birla told the protesting members that the matter is sub judice and urged them to go back to their seats. At 11.30 am, he adjourned the House till noon.
When the House reassembled, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) member Krishna Prasad Tenneti, who was in the Chair, asked Baalu to raise his issue. When Baalu made some remarks about the Madras High Court judge who had given the order in the matter, the members from the treasury benches started protesting.
Objecting to Baalu’s remarks, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said, “This amounts to casting aspersions on the judiciary. Honourable member T R Baalu is a senior member. He cannot cast aspersions on the judiciary.”
On Friday, the Supreme Court refused to entertain an attempt by Tamil Nadu authorities to mention their special leave petition (SLP) challenging a Madras High Court order on lighting a lamp at the disputed ‘Deepathoon’ site in Madurai.
The SLP was filed by Madurai District Collector K J Praveenkumar, who is facing contempt proceedings for allegedly defying a December 1 order by Justice G R Swaminathan, who allowed a plea to light a lamp at the site on the occasion of Karthigai festival on December 3.
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