TN Opp walks out over Jaya remarks

CPM leader J. Hemachandran said the Opposition should be given a chance to reply to the CM’s charge that its members were behaving in an “irresponsible manner”. But the Speaker turned down his plea and he too joined the others in the corridor.

Today, when Congress floor leader S.R. Balasubramaniam sought to move the adjournment motion, the Speaker reminded him that prior permission was required to do so. ‘‘For the sake of politics, one cannot sacrifice the rules,’’ he said.

Defending the arrest of DMK leader M.K. Stalin and other MLAs, Jayalalithaa said they were arrested after they entered the college on a holiday and incited the students to create a law and order problem. ‘‘He has told the students to gherao the car of the Chief Minister and they were arrested on a complaint filed by the principal and there was nothing wrong in it,’’ she said.

She also pointed to the observation made by the Madras High Court bench that even MLAs were not free to enter the college. Parents of the students should also get prior permission for entry, she added.

Meanwhile, the Madras High Court has reserved its order on writ petitions challenging the state government’s decision to demolish the college to construct a new Secretariat building on the campus. The interim stay restraining the government from demolishing the structure will continue till the court order is passed.