The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Jayalalithaa flouting norms, says Balasubramoniyan

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Friday, Apr 01, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Jayalalithaa flouting norms, says Balasubramoniyan

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, MARCH 31 . Congress Legislature Party leader S.R. Balasubramoniyan today charged Chief Minister Jayalalithaa with preventing Opposition leaders from expressing their views in the Assembly.

Talking to presspersons here, he said that under the Assembly rules, 110 statements were made only on issues of public importance. But the Chief Minister was making 110 statements even on issues which needed detailed discussions. When he wanted to raise an objection to this under Rule 116, he was not allowed. The Finance Minister branded him a "political novice".

The Chief Minister making "derogatory remarks" against Opposition leaders was against the Assembly norms. It was the custom not to make any comment against those who were not members of the House, Mr. Balasubramoniyan said.

Referring to her criticism that the opposition MLAs were doing injustice to their constituencies by not attending the session, he said Ms. Jayalalithaa herself boycotted the House for months when she was the Opposition leader. If she could justify her boycott, others would also have plausible arguments.

Refuting her charge that he was ungrateful, Mr. Balasubramoniyan said it was she who was ungrateful. She could not have won the last Assembly election without Congress support.

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