The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Government choking the voice of democracy: Jayalalithaa

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Government choking the voice of democracy: Jayalalithaa

Special Correspondent

Says Opposition prevented from speaking on motion of thanks to Governor's address

WAR OF WORDS: AIADMK MLAs argue with a police officer after they were prevented from entering the Secretariat complex on Tuesday. — Photo: S.R. Raghunathan

CHENNAI: All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Jayalalithaa on Tuesday accused the Treasury benches of "choking the voice of democracy by acting with determination to prevent the Leader of the Opposition from speaking [on the motion of thanks to the Governor's address]."

In a statement, she said: "This is a `black day' in the annals of Indian democracy. People will never accept such acts of choking the voice of democracy and muzzling the Opposition." Though she was ready to go to the House and participate in the debate, she had not received any communication from the Assembly Secretariat.

Opportunity denied

The "murder of democracy" was unprecedented in the history of the Assembly. The debate was wound up and the Chief Minister asked to reply to the discussion on the motion, without giving an opportunity to the leader of the main Opposition party to speak, she said.

She charged the Treasury benches with acting with the "preconception" that she and the 60 other AIADMK members should not be allowed to speak. Having suspended the 60 MLAs so as to ensure that they did not participate in the debate, now a drama was being enacted that they would be permitted to take part in the Budget session, she alleged.

Referring to her decision to participate in the Assembly to voice the AIADMK's views in the House in the wake of "mass suspension" of the party MLAs, Ms. Jayalalithaa said she agreed to become the leader of the legislature party in view of the appeal made by MLAs, party activists and the public so that she could continue to highlight the people's issues, besides participating in the debates in a constructive manner.

"Late" decision

Though the resolution adopted by the AIADMK legislature party, electing her as leader, was handed over to the Speaker on Monday afternoon, his decision was conveyed to her by midnight. She had not received any reply to her question if she would be allowed to speak as Leader of the Opposition. In Parliament and Assemblies, importance was attached to the speech of the Leader of the Opposition, she said.

By deploying the police, the AIADMK MLAs were prevented from entering the Secretariat. But braving various hassles, they entered the complex after 10 a.m., she said.

Hour-long drama

Over an hour-long drama preceded the entry of the AIADMK MLAs into the Secretariat complex.

Security was beefed up in and around the Fort in the wake of reports that Ms. Jayalalithaa would attend the Assembly.

The AIADMK members started trickling in from 8.30 a.m. Since police denied them entry under "orders", they raised slogans against the Government. Some of the MLAs argued that when members of the public were permitted to enter the premises, the police could not deny entry to the elected representatives.

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