CHENNAI: AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Wednesday slammed treasury bench legislators for thumping their desks and laughing while his party walked out of the assembly to protest what he said the House’s failure to take up a special calling attention motion concerning the death of a 39-year-old fisherman and the critical condition of three others in an attack by armed pirates in the sea off Saudi Arabia on Aug 10 night.“I don’t understand why they were clapping and laughing when we walked out of the House in protest. Will anyone who genuinely cares about the welfare of Tamils behave like that,” Palaniswami told reporters outside the House.He said, “TVK govt is a reels govt that shows no real concern for Tamil people.”Palaniswami stated that fisherman P Maaveeran hailing from Thoduvai village in Mayiladuthurai was killed in the pirate attack, while three others sustained injuries and were hospitalized in Saudi Arabia.“We submitted a notice under Rule 55 five days ago, yet it has not been taken up to date,” he said, adding that the victims’ families were contacting AIADMK MLAs seeking assistance.“We urge the govt to repatriate the fisherman’s mortal remains and secure the safe return of the injured. This is the govt’s duty, yet it continues to ignore the plight of Tamils suffering abroad,” he said.
