CHENNAI: DMK has sought action against law minister R Nirmalkumar for making “false and factually incorrect remarks” on the floor of the assembly about former chief ministers M Karunanidhi and M K Stalin and the Sarkaria Commission. DMK had already sought action against chief minister C Joseph Vijay for breach of privilege for his alleged false statements about former chief ministers M Karunanidhi and M K Stalin.Former minister M R K Panneerselvam, along with four other DMK legislators, submitted a representation to Speaker J C D Prabhakar on Tuesday, seeking appropriate action against Nirmalkumar.“Law minister Nirmalkumar always makes false and factually incorrect statements. We have submitted a petition to the speaker against him for making baseless remarks during the recently concluded assembly session. Instead of focusing on his job of ensuring uninterrupted power supply and avoiding frequent power cuts across the state, he has been speaking in a derogatory manner against our party leader (M K Stalin) and leader of opposition (Udhayanidhi Stalin),” Panneerselvam told reporters at the secretariat after meeting the speaker along with party whip E V Velu.The former minister alleged that Nirmalkumar had adopted a “technique” of using the live streaming of assembly proceedings to spread what he described as false information. “Whatever statements they make are easily spread outside the House. So, they are making false statements,” he said.“The assembly rules clearly state that members should not speak about persons who are not present in the House. Even if they want to speak about a member present in the House, they should submit a copy of their charges to the speaker and the person concerned,” Velu said.Referring to the ministers’ remarks on the Sarkaria Commission, Velu alleged that the ruling party was raking up decades-old issues to divert the attention of the House and the people from present and pressing issues.“It is a diversion tactic adopted by ministers of the present govt instead of responding to questions raised by the opposition on people’s issues,” he said.Velu alleged that Nirmalkumar had made disparaging remarks about former bureaucrats Vaithilingam, A L Srinivasan and H V Rao, who had served as secretaries to former chief minister M Karunanidhi. He said the minister had also demeaned the martyrs of MISA and their sacrifices.He further accused Vijay of bringing up the decades-old Sarkaria Commission report instead of responding to questions raised by the leader of opposition on law and order issues under the present TVK govt.As the privilege committee was constituted towards the end of the assembly session, which concluded on Sept 8, the committee is expected to examine the petition and hear both sides before submitting its report to the speaker. The deputy speaker heads the committee, Velu said.
